THE renaissance of Motherwell can continue in the most tangible way today as victory at Firhill would immediately turn Partick Thistle into potential play-off protagonists ahead of the Premiership split.
The Fir Park men were bottom of the table and seemingly in mortal danger only a matter of weeks ago while Thistle seemed to be relatively comfortable. However, the Steelmen can close the gap on the Maryhill side to just one point and captain Keith Lasley believes it will then be a test of Thistle's nerve in the final five matches of the season.
He said: "Five or six weeks ago you wouldn't have thought Thistle would be involved in this but we can pull them back towards us. They have had some decent results in recent weeks but ourselves and Ross County have managed to win as well.
"The more teams involved the better and Saturday gives us that chance to get ourselves closer to the pack above us. We have been involved in that mindset of playing under pressure each week and maybe those above us are not used to that and that might work in our favour.
"It's been on us for a number of weeks and we have now managed to put a run together. So we want to get in that pack above us in the last five games. Every game after the split is a real six-pointer so the pressure builds."
Lasley is not discounting a St Mirren comeback, but after opening up a 10-point lead following Tuesday's 5-0 thrashing he knows it would take something freakish for the Paisley men to catch them.
He said: "I don't think we can say we are comfortable. This season has taught us that. There is a gap there and it will be difficult to overcome it.
"But as ourselves and Ross County have shown, if you can get that one result, you can go on a run and St Mirren will be hoping for that.
"St Mirren would probably have to win five of their last six games if not all of them, so it's a big ask but it can happen in this league where the margins are so tight. If you are just five per cent better than your opponents, you can win the game.
"From our point of view, we just want to look above us."
Manager Ian Baraclough is contemplating one or two changes but, like Lasley, is desperate for the win. He said: "it would be a massive for us if we could end the week with nine points out of nine."
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