KRIS DOOLAN hopes Partick Thistle can land seventh spot this season and take another step in the right direction after an impressive Firhill campaign.

The Jags secured their Premiership berth for a third successive term with victory over St Mirren last weekend as they escaped the battle at the bottom of the SPFL Premiership.

Now Alan Archibald's side head to New Douglas Park this afternoon aiming to cut the gap on Hamilton to just two points ahead of the final 180 minutes of action this month.

Thistle are on course to better last season's 10th-place finish and have improved in all departments in what has been another encouraging campaign at Firhill.

And Doolan is delighted with the positive progress Partick are making as they look to end the season on a high note.

He said: "We are within touching distance of Hamilton and we are going into the game on the back of some good wins and with a lot of confidence.

"Everyone was talking about Hamilton at the start of the season, and rightly so, because they had a great start.

"It would be a real accomplishment for us if we could peg them back and finish above them.

"Getting seventh position means a lot to the club but it is important for the players, the manager and the fans to see Thistle as high up the league as possible.

"We will be doing everything we can to make that happen.

"It is key that there has been progression this season and it was important that there was.

"We have got better in all areas from last season but we are not finished yet.

"It is a long season and things chop and change throughout the campaign, but we have always stuck together and we always pull in the same direction.

"We all want the same thing and everyone involved here is doing their best for the club."