CONRAD BALATONI is set to hand Partick Thistle a major pre-season boost by putting pen-to-paper on a new contract with the club.

The defender was offered fresh terms along with the rest of his title-winning team-mates earlier this summer and is close to signing on the dotted line.

Jags boss Alan Archibald has enjoyed a productive close season so far, bringing in Paul Gallacher and John Baird and tying down the likes of Aaron Muirhead, Stephen O'Donnell and Kris Doolan for the next couple of years.

Balatoni is now poised to follow suit and the defender said: "I am in contract negotiations just now and, hopefully, it will be sorted out within the next couple of weeks.

"The club offered me a deal when they offered everyone else contracts but I went away on holiday. I just put it on the backburner and went and enjoyed my holidays.

"It will get signed. I am happy here and I am happy to commit my future to the club."

Thistle continued their preparations for the new season with a 5-1 win over Annan on Tuesday night, with Balatoni partnering a trialist central defender in the first half at Galabank.

Archibald has brought former Rangers and Dunfermline star Jordan McMillan back to Firhill but is on the lookout for more rearguard reinforcements.

Balatoni formed a solid partnership with Muirhead at the heart of the Thistle backline last season but insists he is taking nothing for granted.

He said: "It is going to be hard but I believe that I am good enough to play in the team.

"I can only do what I do and work hard."

Meanwhile, Archibald has not given up hope of landing midfielder Gary Fraser this summer – despite the former Hamilton star penning a deal with npower Championship side Bolton.

Fraser turned down a move to the Reebok Stadium in January and has spent pre-season with Thistle, joining them at their Durham training camp and starring in friendly action at Galabank earlier this week.

He is now set to move south but SportTimes understands Thistle are keen to bring him to Firhill on loan after he stole the show on Tuesday.

The Jags face Dumbarton this weekend in their next pre-season clash and SportTimes understands Archibald will run the rule over a Czech defender as he attempts to bolster his squad ahead of the new SPFL Premiership campaign.