ALAN ARCHIBALD hopes Partick Thistle's post-split experience from last season will help them over the Premiership finishing line this time around.

The Jags head into the final five-game shoot-out eighth in the standings and in pole position in the race for top-flight safety.

A trip to Ross County this Saturday is first up for Thistle as Archibald's side look to take a huge step towards a third campaign at this level.

And the Firhill boss reckons it will be a thrilling finale as four teams fight it out to retain their Premiership place.

Archibald said: "The best thing about the split from a neutral point of view is that all the games mean something and it is great to watch. Having the play-offs in the Championship and the Premiership is fantastic.

"Sometimes the last five games just peter out, but that is not going to happen now because everyone has got something to play for.

"I think last season does stand us in good stead going into the split and it helped us against Motherwell last time out as well.

"There was a lot at stake and we were under pressure. We know what we need to do.

"Last year we went into the split on the back of a bad result against Hearts, but we were unbeaten until the last game against County. If we can do the same again then we will be safe."

Thistle make the trip to Dingwall just one point clear of the Staggies, but seven in front of 11th-placed Motherwell.

And Archibald is eager to right the recent wrongs after 3-1 and 1-0 defeats to County in quick succession a couple of weeks ago.

He said: "Your mind always goes back to those games, but they have no bearing on Saturday.

"The first one was horrendous and we were really poor, but in the second one, there wasn't much in the game.

"Saturday is a new game and we are in a much more confident mood as a squad. We have got good consistency and momentum and we are looking forward to it."