ALAN ARCHIBALD hopes Partick Thistle's favour to Chris Erskine doesn't come back to haunt them at Tannadice tomorrow.

The Jags will square up to a host of familiar faces when they take on Jackie McNamara's Dundee United, but it is Erskine who they have seen at close quarters most recently.

After leaving Firhill to join the Arabs last summer, the winger returned to Thistle on loan in January to help keep Archibald's side in the Premiership.

Erskine has now made the most of his second chance to impress on Tayside and Jags boss Archibald is happy to have played his part.

He said: "We have done him a favour, but it worked both ways and we knew that would be the case.

"He came in and did a job for us and helped us stay up. I think it gave him the confidence that he was good enough to play in the league.

"We never had a doubt about that. He is a confidence player and we know what he can bring.

"He can be a one out of 10 or a 10 out of 10 in the space of five minutes. But he has got quality and we need to be on our guard against it.

"Jackie was open and said to him to go back for pre-season and he went there with a great attitude and has been in the team ever since."

Thistle head into the United clash aiming to kick on from their 3-1 victory over Motherwell last time out and continue their progress up the table.

The Arabs are flying high in second spot, despite a 2-0 defeat to Kilmarnock in their last outing ending a run of three straight wins.

And Archibald knows his side will have to be at their best at Tannadice. He said: "We know how good they are.

"Last year we had three games against them and drew two and lost one. Even in the game they turned us over, we played some good stuff and they were tight matches.

"It is always an open game, they know the way we play and we know the way they play. It is always an entertaining match and hopefully we can get a victory this time.

"You have got to match them up and be prepared.

"We are aware of their strengths, they are good on the counter attack and, middle to front, they are very good.

"They have got two guys that sit there, Paul Paton and John Rankin, who don't get a lot of plaudits but do a good job for them so that the other four or five go forward and go and attack."