STEVEN LAWLESS is determined Partick Thistle will keep their foot to the floor as they look to hit top gear and secure their Premiership status.

The Jags took another step towards top-flight safety with a fine 3-0 win over St Johnstone last weekend - their second triumph in three matches.

Before they meet struggling Motherwell in the final match before the split, Alan Archibald's side face a tricky run of fixtures against the trio of teams flying high in the Premiership, starting with Inverness Caley at Firhill today.

The Jags have yet to record consecutive wins since their return to this level last season, and Lawless knows there would be no better time than today to break that run.

He said: "We go into the match with confidence and we hope we can get two wins on the bounce. It's been a long time since that has happened. If we can get that then it would be a few good weeks for us.

"I don't know [when we will be safe]. I think if we can push on we can look further ahead. It's about winning as many as we can until the end of the season. You can't take your foot off the gas, even if you do get a couple of wins in the bag. You can see the teams down at the bottom have started getting back into it.

"But if we win our next couple of games then we can hopefully start looking up rather than looking down. We just take each game at a time. We've got Aberdeen and Celtic after today and they will be tough - but so will Inverness.

"It's going to be tough because Inverness are up there on merit, but we've given a good account of ourselves against them this season.

"They beat us last time, but hopefully we can get a result. If they come out and play, then hopefully we can do well."

Victory over Inverness would be another significant step in the right direction for Thistle as they look to ensure they will spend a third year in Scotland's top flight.

It would allow boss Archibald to start planning ahead for the new campaign, and mean he could open deal talks with his out-of-contract stars.

Lawless is one of a number of Jags players who are free to leave Firhill in the summer, but the forward won't seek a long-term commitment from the club.

He said: "I only signed a two-year deal when we got promoted. Other than that it's only been one. I signed a two-year deal at Motherwell and I wasn't happy with the way I performed. I've been offered two-year deals since then, but I've always said I just wanted one.

"It worked out for me, so I've normally done the same since then. Don't get me wrong, if I was offered a long-term deal I would sign it.

"But where I was back then one-year deals suited me. Some players take their foot off the gas when they get a long-term deal.

"I'm not saying that would happen to me, but maybe the one-year deal makes you give your all every single day - and hopefully the gaffer sees that. But it works both ways. It's a win-win really."

*Lawless was speaking at Pizza Express in Silverburn. Pizza Express sponsor the Jags' half-time draw at Firhill and will give all draw ticket holders 25% off at restaurants across the country.