And while the Jags sit at the bottom of the five-team league on five points from seven matches, they have at least two games in hand on the other teams.
Tomorrow’s opponents, Marist, top the table on 19 points from 11 games. And while they beat Thistle twice (2-1 and 6-1) on the artificial surface of the Arena Turf in Palmerston North, the spongy turf of the Childers Road Reserve will be a different matter.
Thistle coach Garrett Blair says he has a good squad to choose from; it’s just a question of how to use them.
But he will be without two influential players tomorrow. Striker Campbell Hall was sent off in an Eastern League game last weekend and midfielder Hugo Elwood got his marching orders near the end of the Federation League game against Palmerston North United.
Both players received one-game suspensions, so will be available for Sunday’s game against Taradale at 1pm.
The long rain-enforced layoffs have given injured players more recovery time without commensurate loss of playing opportunities.
The likes of midfielder Cullen Spawforth and utility player Nick Land are back in the frame after injuries that might normally have cost them most of the league programme.
Blair is looking at playing Land at leftback, with Andre Baple switching sides to his favoured rightback spot.
With goalkeeper and skipper Mitchell Stewart-Hill in fine form, double centrebacks Finn McAuley and Ryan Noon have a solid base on which to build their defensive understanding.
Elwood’s absence tomorrow opens the way for Cory Thomson to start in the defensive midfield role, with Spawforth and possibly David Salmon filling the other places in the engine room.
Blair is leaning towards the use of Davie Ure in the central role up front, with licence to drop off to receive the ball. In the past decade, Ure has had considerable success dropping into space between the front line and midfield.
His shooting from distance has been a feature of his game. And he’s no slouch in the hurly-burly of the penalty area.
Jimmy Somerton and Oska Smith have caused havoc in opposing defences with their pace on the ball. Smith has created some grand chances for Somerton, who has returned the favour on occasion.
But where Somerton really excels is in his runs from the wing into the centre, setting up the shot from 20 metres or more.
Midfielder Salmon is a doubtful starter because of work commitments this weekend, but Blair has a capable alternative in Ash McMillan.
Defender Daniel Venema and utility player Sam Royston could also figure, while Mark Baple will stand by as goalkeeping sub.
Blair says his squad have been working hard in training and the task of two games in three days is as much a mental challenge as a physical one.
Against Marist, Thistle would try to prevent them from playing through their midfield and look to defend a bit better than they had been doing.
“If we can do that and get our wide players in behind, those two can finish,” Blair said.
The players were looking forward to the Taradale game, Blair said. They felt they were hard done by in the previous clash, where a 90th-minute penalty gave Taradale a 4-3 win.
But Taradale’s cause could be helped by the fact that they do not have a game tomorrow and should come into Sunday’s game fresh.
