THE words ‘no pressure’ and ‘Partick Thistle’ do not usually go together. At this stage of the season, the Jags are usually preparing for life in the bottom six and a fight against relegation.

But this time round, for a change, they are safe inside the top half of the Premiership. And striker Kris Doolan is confident that, with the pressure off for once, they will keep playing with the confidence that has taken them into sixth place - starting this afternoon against Rangers at Ibrox.

“We’re going into the game high on confidence,” the 30-year-old striker said. “That’s a massive thing for us. Times before we’ve went into games low on confidence, but coming off the back of the results we’ve had, we should be looking to go and win.

“This is a kind of luxury for us so far to have it sewn up already, but like we say it is only that - a bit of a luxury. The manager’s spoken to the players, we know what’s expected and we’re going for the three points.

“We’re still working hard. I think that’s key: that we’re not happy just to put the tools away now and settle for sixth place. Hearts are within our grasp, and we’re coming for them.

“I don’t think any team could go to Ibrox to have a party. I don’t think that’s the way you’re going there. It’s a big stadium, there’s a lot of people, and you’ve got to go there and perform to the best you can.

“Especially now for us that we’re in the top six, it is more comfortable, but we’ve got the bit between our teeth and we want to go and catch Hearts. This game means something to us.”

The Tynecastle club were only three points clear of Thistle going into their match last night against Kilmarnock, and St Johnstone are eight points ahead as things stand. So it is still perfectly possible that Thistle could be celebrating a fourth-place finish in a month’s time, but Doolan insisted they would not look so far ahead just yet.

“All we can do is look at the team directly above us,” he said. “That’s the aim for us: if we catch Hearts we’ll look at St Johnstone, but right now, it’s short term.”

One thing that is longer term is the plan, announced this week, for the club to have its own dedicated training centre for the first time. It is a move that, combined with the team’s form, should help attract more high-quality players to the club according to the striker.

“I think it’s a big draw for players,” he continued. “People don’t want to be jumping here and there, they want to have a training base.

“For the progression for younger players, you can come in the morning and everything will be there for them. The gym will be there, their food will be there, they’ll be well looked after until they go home. I think it’s a massive attraction.

“It’s been unbelievable. Everything seems to have happened in the one season, which is great. But again, it’s just one of those where I have to keep going, the team have to keep going, because the club’s going up the way off the pitch and on the pitch. It’s a great time to be at the club.”