IT is the start of a new era at Firhill on Friday night - but old wounds will be opened and scores settled.

Partick Thistle and Dundee United will become the first teams to play a SPFL Premiership match and the first clubs to appear on BT Sport's coverage of our national game as the 2013-14 campaign kicks off and the Jags return to the big time after a nine-year absence.

The stage is set for the drama to unfold and a hero to emerge, but it will be Jackie McNamara that is the pantomime villain at the centre of the action.

His departure from Partick proved a hugely controversial and emotive affair, and soured the relationship the man who started Thistle's title charge had with the fans who once chanted his name.

His reception will be somewhat different as he makes his way along the touchline on Friday evening – and Jags boss Alan Archibald knows his former team-mate and gaffer is unlikely to get the welcome mat rolled out by the Firhill fans.

"Everyone has got their own opinion on it," he told SportTimes. "They did a lot for the club and gave good service to the club while they were here.

"With what happened, that is the way fans are and that is the way things go in football, we all know that. Jackie, Simon Donnelly and the players Paul Paton and Chris Erskine know that as well. It is just football, you will get booed.

"It doesn't matter how well you do, you still get booed. I got booed when I came back from a section of fans. That is just football.

"You get people that think you should never leave or whatever. With the way it happened, it left a sour taste in some of the fans' mouths and some of the staff's mouths.

"It is just football, it is one of those things. I would rather focus away from it. As long as we perform on the pitch, I couldn't care what happens. It has turned out great for me. I am still pals with them, I still speak to Jackie, Simon and Craig Hinchcliffe.

"I worked with them closely, Jackie gave me my first opportunity to go and coach the reserves. There is no bitter taste in my mouth."

IT is not just McNamara and his coaching staff who will be back on familiar territory on Friday night, with title-winning stars Paton and Erskine set to make their competitive debuts on the same pitch they bowed out as Thistle players on in May.

It is Archibald and Scott Paterson who will lead the Jags out into the Premiership arena and the Firhill boss is confident his players can rise to the occasion.

He said: "It was always going to be the case we would get United in the first game. It is a great start for the club, the media are all over it. But once that has finished, it is just about two teams. It is not about myself or Jackie or the clubs. It is about the players going out and playing.

"The fact that Jackie is coming back adds more for the fans than anything else. It is about how we adapt to that and react to it. We want to go out and play our normal game.

"Once the dust settles, it is just a normal game. We can't get caught up in the atmosphere. When we have had a big crowd in here, we have performed. We done it last year and hopefully that will continue."

Archibald's champions overcame the odds and defied the doubters to pip Morton to the First Division title last season and earn themselves a shot at the big time.

And the Jags boss is confident his squad have what it takes to cut it in Scotland's highest echelon.

Archibald said: "I don't think they have got a point to prove to me or themselves. I think they proved a lot of people wrong last year by winning the league. A lot of them have been released by clubs and now they have a chance to play against them.

"It gives them a chance to show how good they are but I don't think they have got a point to prove to anyone. It is a chance to test ourselves against teams of a higher quality. Consistency will be key, we know that. If we can start well, we can build on that.

"I know it is a different league but we started well last season and that got everyone around the place up for it and we want to start well again."