CHRISTIE ELLIOTT is determined to finish the season on a high after a frustrating spell on the sidelines during Partick Thistle's push for Premiership survival.

The forward spent two months out of action with a hand injury and is now bidding for a first-team berth in the closing weeks of the campaign.

Alan Archibald's side face Hamilton Accies on Saturday aiming to move within touching distance of seventh spot in the top flight with just two matches - at home to Kilmarnock and away to Motherwell - to come this term.

Elliott has just 12 minutes of action to his credit after returning to full fitness and is eager to play his part during the run-in.

He said: "I was out for a few weeks, so I need to get my fitness and sharpness back up, but I am coming along well and I just need to try and get back in the team. It is my aim to try and get a game in the next couple of weeks, but the team is doing well just now. If my chance comes, hopefully I am able to take it.

"It was just one of those things, a freak accident. I fell on my hand and it turned out it was broken. I didn't think it was that serious at the time, but it turned out worse than I thought and I was forced out for a few weeks.

"The spirit in the squad is great just now and everyone is buzzing, so it is a good time to be back and hopefully I can get back to where I was before the injury."

After securing their top-flight status for another season with a 3-0 win over St Mirren, Thistle head into the final hat-trick of fixtures with their sights set on seventh.

Victory over Hamilton would put them just two points behind Martin Canning's side and would guarantee them eighth spot.

It has been another encouraging campaign for Archibald and his players, and Elliott hopes they will get their reward with an impressive Premiership finish.

He said: "It would be great if we could get seventh and see our hard work this season pay off. We just need to keep pushing. We have got three games left and it is definitely achievable.

"We have been on a great run recently and it has come at a good time for us. Hopefully we can keep it going and we can finish seventh now.

"We are in a much better position than we were this time last season, so hopefully now we can finish strongly and move up the league again."

While Thistle have Hamilton in their sight, boss Archibald is also looking longer-term as he starts planning for the new campaign.

Elliott is one of a dozen Jags players who are out of contract in the summer, and the 23-year-old hopes it proves good to talk at Firhill.

He said: "I have just got to keep working hard and hopefully we will have a chat about it and we will go from there.

"It is better this season compared to last year because the manager has a bit of time. It is not a rush at the end of the season like it was last year. He has got a few weeks to try and plan things."