ALAN ARCHIBALD has warned his talented young Partick Thistle side they can't afford to freeze against Celtic tomorrow.

The lunchtime showdown will be the first time the Hoops have pulled up at Firhill on league business since Sunday, February 22, 2004, when doubles from Chris Sutton and Stan Varga handed Celtic a 4-1 victory with Gerry Britton replying for Jags.

Archie says he will be making no special plans to derail the Parkhead title express and instead is looking for his men to produce their best and take the game to the champions.

As such, the Firhill gaffer had no hesitation in making attitude the key to securing a success well worth savouring in the west end.

Archibald said: "Our attitude must be perfect against Celtic tomorrow. The one thing we can't do is go out there and freeze against them.

"Celtic are the champions and we respect them for that but on match day we have to treat them like any other side.

"I certainly don't see any point in changing the way we play because it is Celtic. We play a certain way to get the best out of the players we have and because it is the type of football we believe in at Thistle.

"At Inverness last week we stuck to that, with maybe a couple of minor adjustments, and we got our rewards. It will be the same tomorrow against Celtic although, again, there may be a couple of minor tweaks. But for me consistency in the way you play is important, as it means the players know and are comfortable with what they are doing."

A pragmatist to the core, Archibald has played down any hype regarding a battle of managerial wits between him and the Hoops' much-lauded manager Lennon.

Archie said: "Obviously Neil Lennon has done a tremendous job at Celtic and has already won cups and league titles with them and taken them to the last 16 of the Champions League.

"After the victory over Ajax the other night they still have a real chance of repeating that.

"But I haven't given a thought in respect of it being about me managing against or trying to match Neil. For me it is about the two teams on the park.

"We have got to make sure that the Thistle team that take the field at Firhill tomorrow is ready to produce its best and that is all you can do."

If ever the phrase 'quiet confidence' could be appropriately applied to a manager, it is Archibald.

A man of few words, quietly spoken but always well judged, the Thistle stalwart made the jump from player to coach with some aplomb.

Assessing his side's chances against Celts, he went on:"I don't think there is any doubt that if we can get a positive result it would give us a terrific platform going forward.

"We have Aberdeen away next and we have a few wrongs to right from the first game with them at Firhill.

"But we are under no illusions as to how tough it will be. Celtic are the best team in the country and nothing but our best will do but we will be positive."

Mark Kerr is rated doubtful with an ankle injury while the game has come a week too early for Jordan McMillan,