STUART BANNIGAN insists he is fit and ready to go as he targets a starting berth for Partick Thistle's SPFL Premiership opener against Dundee United on Friday.

The midfielder has endured a stop-start pre-season campaign as injuries have disrupted his preparations.

He turned in a solid performance and gained vital match minutes in the 0-0 draw with Cypriot side AEL Limassol on Saturday as Thistle rounded off their summer schedule and is keen to play his part against the Arabs later this week.

The visit of Jackie McNamara's side will mark the Jags' return to the top flight after a nine-year wait and Bannigan is eager to take to the field.

He said: "It has been a frustrating pre-season for me due to injuries so it was good to get a game on Saturday.

"AEL were a decent team so it was a good test for us and I was pleased to get some minutes under my belt.

"I am getting there fitness-wise. I trained all last week and will be ready for the season.

"I did my ankle against Airdrie in a bounce match in the first week of pre-season and then after I came back from that, I done the other one.

"It is unfortunate, but I feel good and I am ready to go. It could have been worse, the main thing is I am back now.

"Hopefully that is my injuries over for the season. I am hoping to play on Friday. I trained last week and played on Saturday so hopefully I will get another full week's training.

"I will definitely be ready to go if I am selected. You don't want to miss any games, especially the first game of the season.

"It will be an exciting game and it is one that we all want to play in."

If their return to Scotland's top tier is not a big enough occasion for Thistle fans to look forward to, the prospect of facing former boss McNamara will add spice to the eagerly anticipated season opener.

McNamara was joined at Tannadice in February by Simon Donnelly and Darren Jackson and has recruited goalkeeping coach Craig Hinchcliffe and title-winning stars Paul Paton and Chris Erskine to his ranks this summer.

The former Jags are likely to receive a hostile welcome from the Firhill stands on their return to Glasgow.

But Bannigan insists Alan Archibald's squad won't add fuel to the flames as they focus on their football and aim to get off to a winning start.

He said: "It is being hyped up by everyone but we will focus on the game and look to get off to a good start for ourselves.

"We are confident. We will just concentrate on the game. We are still friends with the guys and still speak to them. I have been speaking to Chris and Paul over the summer and they are still friends.

"But when the game comes, we will want to win. I played against Pates in training so I know what he is like. He was great for me as a player and he is a great guy as well.

"But we will concentrate on ourselves and let everyone else hype the game up.

"It is not the old players against us. It is about Thistle and winning the game."