PARTICK THISTLE have the big Glasgow derby against Celtic this season, and presumably next, but only due to extenuating circumstances.

Their great rivals historically, Clyde, lie three divisions below them, have not played in the city for almost 20 years, and are in the process of decanting again from Cumbernauld to East Kilbride. There is also a rivalry of sorts with Kilmarnock, although its origins are somewhat unclear.

Meanwhile a few miles south west of the city, the bitterness that exists between Morton and St Mirren is laid bare in the annual Renfrewshire Cup final but it is now 13 years since the clubs were in the same division, the Greenock club having been out of the top flight since 1988. It is like trying to stay angry with a normally noisy neighbour when they have been away on holiday for six months.

There is, therefore, a void when it comes to meaningful derbies in the fixture list of both clubs, which may add an edge to tomorrow's meeting between Thistle and St Mirren at Firhill. There is probably more that unites than divides them - both exist in the lengthy shadow of the Old Firm - but Thistle's return to the top division, the geographical proximity of the clubs and their shared fight to avoid the play-off berth at the foot of the table should contribute towards a large crowd, including a sizeable away contingent latching on to any excuse for a night out in Glasgow.

It is not just supporters, though, who are eagerly looking forward to it. John McGinn was 10 the last time St Mirren played a competitive match at Firhill but knows this is a fixture with a bit of spice attached. "It's almost like a derby," said the midfielder. "It's local to myself and I love playing at Firhill. I'd expect there would be a big away crowd there as it's not too far from Paisley."

Thistle were backed by large numbers in Paisley for the teams' first meeting of the term in August. It was a frustrating afternoon for St Mirren, who led through Kenny McLean's goal only to concede twice in the final nine minutes. "It was horrible," recalled McGinn. "They gave us a bit of a doing that day."

Thistle have yet to win at Firhill in the league this season, and head into tomorrow's match on the back of a 4-0 defeat against Aberdeen but, that aside, McGinn believes the promoted side have begun the campaign well. "I've been very impressed with how Thistle have done. Their confidence maybe took a dent but we lost 4-0 to Dundee United then recovered in our next match. Hopefully they won't do the same. They've not won at home and we don't want them to end that run on Saturday."

The defeat at Pittodrie was an assault on the senses but the Thistle players were spared an ear-bashing afterwards, with Alan Archibald instead putting an arm round his squad. The Thistle manager has spent this week trying to point his team in the direction of their second win in seven matches, rather than simply pointing the finger.

Indeed, the echoes of that result have been quietened by the fact that Thistle remain five points ahead of St Mirren in the SPFL Premiership table. There has been little call to fly off the handle then, although Archibald acknowledged yesterday that he had already learned that modern players do not always respond well to the sort of methods favoured by coaches in the old days.

"I learned the last two or three years of my playing career how different players are and how you talk to them and approach them," said Archibald. "In days gone by you might shout and bawl but now one or two can handle that and maybe four or five can't. You can lose the rag, although there's only really been a couple of times when I've had a wee go at them."