Partick Thistle striker Kris Doolan wants to wrap up the Jags’ top-six status as soon as possible, because he doesn’t want to go through the despair of losing out at the final hurdle again.

Doolan was thrown on in the second half of the last game before the split last season at Ross County, with Thistle desperately chasing the goal that would have taken them into the top half.

They couldn’t find it though, and the lingering memory of the deathly quiet bus trip back down to Maryhill from Dingwall still haunts the forward.

With the same opposition due to visit Firhill on Saturday just four games from the league breaking in two again, Doolan is keen to put the issue to bed as soon as possible this time around.

“I definitely don’t want to experience a feeling like that again,” Doolan said.

“Our goal over the last couple of years has been to make that top six, and to work so hard towards that target last season and fall short by a single goal was heartbreaking.

“Being on that bus back down from Dingwall wasn’t a pleasant place to be, it was just such a downer after doing so well to recover from the poor start we had to the season.

“This year again we didn’t start too well, but we’ve now put ourselves in a great position where it is all in our hands. It would be a real sickener not to make it again.

“The home games will be key, and we really have to be approaching Saturday’s game as if it is a must-win. We will still be in with a shout no matter what happens, but we don’t want to be in a situation where we are going to Ibrox on the final day before the split in a make-or-break situation.

“This season especially, the significance of getting into that top six is heightened even more because then you would be safe as well.

“Hopefully it won’t come to that, but we have to make sure that we take as many points as we can from every game, starting this Saturday against Ross County.”

Another issue that Doolan is hoping to put to bed as soon as possible is when and where he will bag his 100th goal in Partick Thistle colours.

Although he admits it was disappointing not to get the all-important goal at Rugby Park in the Jags’ last outing, he hopes that this Saturday can provide him a chance to celebrate the moment with his own supporters.

“Wherever and whenever it comes, it will be a special moment,” Doolan said. “But I would be lying if I said that I didn’t desperately want to do it this weekend so that I can share the moment with our fans.

“To get the 100th goal at Firhill would be a dream come true for me, it really would.

“More importantly though, it would help the team towards getting a crucial three points.

“If you offered me the victory and I didn’t score or a draw or defeat with me scoring, there’s no doubt I would take the win. The team is the most important thing.”

Doolan is now into double figures for the seventh consecutive season, but he is happy that the goalscoring burden is being shared little this year.

“I always put pressure on myself to get to double figures, so I’m delighted that I’ve managed it again,” he said.

“Chris Erskine and maybe even Liam Lindsay could do it as well though, and I think it’s a while since we’ve had two or more players achieve it.

“That can only be good for the team.”