The defender has endured a frustrating start to the season after a suspension carried forward from last year meant he missed the opening weeks of the campaign.
It has proved costly for the former Hearts youngster, who has seen summer signing Aaron Muirhead go on to form a solid central defensive partnership with Firhill captain Alan Archibald in recent games.
Thistle's superb start to the season has meant there has been little scope for change for boss Jackie McNamara thus far, with the Jags gaffer sticking with virtually the same line-up for many of the opening fixtures.
It has meant the likes of Balatoni and left-back Aaron Sinclair have been forced to watch on from the bench, but the Englishman knows team success has to come first.
He said: "Boys are going to be disappointed when they are not playing, but football is a team game.
"It is a long season and we will all be called upon and needed over the next few months.
"When you get that chance, you have to grasp it and grab it with both hands and make it hard for the manager to leave you out again.
"That is football. If boys are doing well, that means the team is doing well and that can only be good for Partick Thistle.
"It is the same in every team. If I had been in the side and we had been doing well and winning games then I would hope to keep my place in the line-up.
"I am sure the boys all feel the same. The manager has been faithful to them. If you play well then you will keep your place. I can't argue with that. There is good competition for places right across the team.
"It is spurring everyone on and I think that is why we have been doing so well recently. That has been driving everyone on to play well and we have been winning games as a result."
Balatoni could be in action tonight when the Thistle second string kick off their Reserve League programme against Cowden- beath.
He said: "I just have to be patient and wait for my chance. Over the course of a season, you will get injuries and suspensions and I need to be ready for when the manager calls upon me."
