SCOTT PATERSON reckons Partick Thistle's Durham training camp will be ideal preparation for their shot at Scotland's top tier.

After beginning pre-season training last Monday, the First Division champions headed south yesterday afternoon and will spend the coming days in the north-east of England.

Alan Archibald's side beat Airdrieonians in a closed-door clash on Saturday as they completed their first week of intense work and Firhill assistant manager Paterson is delighted with how the Jags squad are shaping up.

He said: "The first week was good. It was good to see the boys back.

"They've all come back in good condition. Gone are the days where a player would take the full six-eight weeks off and get fit in pre-season.

"Barry Stephen, the strength and condition coach, has come in and worked closely with them since the first day when they did fitness tests. After that the whole week was really good and the boys worked really hard.

"The footballs were out last Monday afternoon. We had games all week. I think that is important; that's what their job is. The balls have been there and we've had possession and small-sided games."

Thistle will play another bounce match on Wednesday before their first public outing of the summer against Gateshead on Saturday.

That will be the first opportunity for Jags fans to see their title heroes in action this summer ahead of their top-flight bow. Close-season captures Paul Gallacher and John Baird have made the trip south as Thistle gear up for their curtain-raiser with Dundee United on August 3.

The Jags have been able to hold on to most of their top stars for the new season and Paterson is keen to continue putting the building blocks in place.

He said: "We had a really good week with a lot of fitness work and ballwork and we will change things slightly in Durham. We have a couple of games down there and the training will become a bit sharper and more game-related.

"We've a bounce game during the week and then the game with Gateshead at Durham on the Saturday.

"It will be good to get those games and get game time under their belts and good to get away from Firhill as well for a few days."

He went on: "It will be good for team spirit and good for the new players as well as they get to know the other lads. We're really looking forward to the trip.

"The new players have fitted in really well. Paul Gallacher has come in and has the two roles to perform (as player and coach). John Baird has come down from Dundee and has a good year's experience in the SPL and Jordan McMillan we know about from last season.

"We're looking to add a few more faces to the squad before the start of the season."

After facing Gateshead at New Ferens Park this weekend, Thistle will return back across the border for friendly clashes with Annan, Dumbarton, Livingston and Arbroath in the coming weeks as they bid to hit their peak right on cue.

The visit of United is a mouth-watering start to life back in the big time for the Jags but Paterson won't get caught up in the furore.

He said: "There's obviously going to be a lot of hype surrounding that match with Jackie (McNamara and Simon (Donnelly) coming back but it is just another game.

"It would be good to get off to a good start, but we'll not be paying any attention to the hype surrounding the fixture."