CONRAD BALATONI is determined Partick Thistle - and possibly himself - will bow out on a high on Saturday.

The defender made what could prove to be his final Firhill appearance for the Jags at the weekend as Alan Archibald's side crashed to a 4-1 defeat against Kilmarnock.

Balatoni netted a second-half header for Thistle, but it was day to forget as Gary Locke's side retained their Premiership berth with a comfortable triumph.

Partick will round off their campaign against Motherwell on Saturday and Balatoni, one of a host of Jags stars out of contract this summer, is eager to play at Fir Park.

He said: "Getting the goal was nice, but if it is to be my last game at Firhill it is not nice to think back and see that is the last result I have had here.

"We will wait and see what happens. If it is, I can go out with my head held high because we have stayed in this league and improved a lot since I first came here. Overall, it has been a good season for us.

"I don't know if the manager will change it for Saturday, but I want to play every game and I want to play the last game of the season.

"I was captain again against Kilmarnock and that has been special for me because it is an honour to captain this club.

"I will go out and give my all until the final whistle on Saturday - then I will see where things take me.

"Hopefully we can get another win on the board and end a good season on a high."

Thistle went into the Killie clash already secured of an eighth-place finish in the Premiership, but looking to maintain their recent fine run of form.

It was the visitors who claimed the points, though, as Jamie Hamill and Josh Magennis netted either side of a Tope Obadeyi brace to sink the Jags.

And Balatoni admits Archibald's side never got going as their four-game unbeaten streak came to an end.

He said: "We knew it was going to be a tough game, they were coming here fighting for their lives. We just didn't show the same application, work-rate and quality we have in the last few months and I think it showed on the day that they were hungrier than us.

"We lost four really poor goals and it is tough to take, but we will move on and get a good week's training under our belt and hopefully go out on a high against Motherwell.

"A few of the boys are carrying knocks, I am myself, but we can't use that as an excuse. We have to be up for every game, whether it is at the end of the season or the start.

"It wasn't a good day for us on Saturday and I can only apologise to the fans who came to watch us.

"Hopefully we can make up for it against Motherwell and we can give them a good send-off for the summer."

Thistle may have bowed out at Firhill on a low, but it has been another successful season for Archibald and his side.

The Jags secured their Premiership place for a third straight season earlier this month and have agreed deals with Callum Booth, Christie Elliott and Abdul Osman already for next term.

Balatoni said: "You have got to look at the bigger picture. The objective was to stay in the league and we done that with a few games to spare.

"It was disappointing to lose our final home game and disappointing that we couldn't send the fans away with a win.

"But the team will be back next year and hopefully building on this season's success."