KRIS DOOLAN insists there are no hard feelings after Lyle Taylor took his place at the head of the Partick Thistle attack.

The Jags striker has found himself out of the starting line-up in recent weeks following Taylor's arrival on a loan deal from Sheffield United.

While the former Falkirk star has netted three times in as many games for Alan Archibald's side, Doolan has not found the target since Thistle's 1-1 draw with Hibernian last month.

Doolan is unfortunate to find himself on the bench following a good first half to the season that saw him score seven times in the Premiership, but the striker is looking at the bigger picture.

He said: "We're all in it together. I was delighted for Lyle when he scored, even if he was in the team ahead of me. This isn't an individual thing.

"I was delighted to see him get off the mark and he picked up where he left off in his next game.

"It's important there's competition because it makes everyone better.

"We've got it all over the park now and that makes for a healthy situation.

"I wasn't put out for not doing my job. There was a tactical reason for Lyle coming in and playing.

"It's healthy that there's competition. I'll wait my turn and I'll be ready to step in when needed."

The arrival of Taylor has given Thistle a much-needed shot in the arm as he scored in the victory over Hearts and bagged a double in last weekend's 3-3 draw with Ross County.

But it is another striker, Killie's Kris Boyd, that could grab the headlines once again this afternoon as he looks to continue his goal-a-game scoring ratio against the Jags this season.

Doolan said: "Kris is someone we have to keep an eye on. Everyone knows all about Kris Boyd and what he brings to the table.

"We definitely have to keep it tight and not give him any space."

He went on: "Everyone that plays up front can look at him and his finishing. He's not the all-time leading scorer in the SPL for no reason. You have to admire the way he plays.

"He scored against us before and, if he gets one chance, more often than not he'll get a goal."

After throwing away a two-goal lead, and another two points, against County last time out, Thistle head into today's Killie clash aiming to finally end their barren Firhill fortunes.

Only a handful of points separate the four teams - Thistle, County, St Mirren and Allan Johnston's side - in the battle to avoid the relegation play-off place.

And Doolan knows there is no time like the present for the Jags to start finding their form.

He said: "There's a great incentive for us to win. The bottom six is so tight that there will be a lot of movement between now and the end of the season.

"We need to claw points back on the teams above us and Kilmarnock are a great team to start that against.

"It could be the four teams down there competing to try and avoid the play-off place."