Partick Thistle defender Danny Devine is under no illusions as to how vital his team's next three matches are in their quest for survival in the Scottish Premiership and he knows that if they are to go on a run of wins, there would be no better time that this Saturday for it to begin.

Thistle currently lie in tenth position in the Premiership but face ninth-place Dundee at Firhill this weekend and with the Dens Park side just one point ahead of the Jags, Devine's team could climb above Dundee, as well as St Johnstone, who do not play until Sunday.

And with Thistle having put in a stirring performance against Celtic in the Scottish Cup last weekend, which saw the Scottish champions scrape a 3-2 win, Devine is confident that his team are in good form. "We’re looking forward to the Dundee game and the boys are raring to go, especially after our second half performance against Celtic last weekend," he said.

"There were a lot of positives to take from that game if you take out the first fifteen minutes.

"But this weekend, it’s a different game – it’s in the league and it’s a big opportunity for us to leapfrog Dundee so the boys are eager to get going.

"It is a big game and there is quite a bit of pressure on it but the boys will put that to the back of their heads and just go out there trying to get the three points.

"It’s important for us to creep up the table – we’ve had a lot of injuries and setbacks this year but still, it’s disappointing that we’ve been lingering at the bottom of the table. We’re running out of games now and so if there’s ever a time for us to start picking up points and winning games, it’s now and it has to start on Saturday."

Following the Dundee game, Thistle will then face Hamilton and Ross County who are at the bottom of the table and Devine knows that racking up some points in the next few weeks could ensure their survival this season. "The next three games are vitally important for us because it’s the teams who are round about us so if we’re ever going to put a run together, to start that on Saturday would be perfect because of who we’re up against," he said. "We’re not thinking too far ahead and we’ll take every game as it comes but if we could get that win on Saturday and then kick on from there, that would be great."

Devine has regained his place in the team after a spell on the sidelines and he admits that it has been great to be back playing. "It was tough when I was out because I missed a couple of games and when I was out, the boys were doing well and picked up a bit of form," he said.

"They got a couple of good results but that’s football and you just have to bide your time.

"But it was good for me to get back in against Rangers and then go up against Celtic last weekend so things are very positive for me.

"Hopefully I can get more game time in the next few weeks although that’s obviously up to the manager and which team he picks but it’s definitely been good to get back in."