Partick thistle are now staring down their first fixture of the SPFL season but they are not about to flinch.
A goalless draw with Cypriot side AEL Limassol on Saturday completed the Glasgow club's pre-season and they will back on the Firhill pitch on Friday night to signal their return to the top flight with a match against Dundee United.
It is nine years since Partick last stepped foot in the top flight so the match might invite a sense of nostalgia, although there will also be an opportunity to engage with those who have figured at Firhill more recently. Coaches Jackie McNamara, Simon Donnelly, Craig Hinchcliffe and Darren Jackson, and players Paul Paton and Chris Erskine played a part in Partick's title win last term but all have since made their way to Tannadice.
The departure of McNamara in February proved to be a controversial affair and the United manager might not expect to made to feel all that welcome by the majority of a large Firhill crowd. Instead, supporter's good graces will be reserved for the smattering of players that Alan Archibald has brought this summer, not least Mexican defender Gabriel Rojo de la Vega Piccolo.
"I must admit that Glasgow is a lovely city and what pleased me is that the rest of the boys made me feel very welcome," said Piccolo, who signed a two-year contract following Saturday's draw at Firhill.
The former Rayo Vallecano player could make his competitive debut on Friday, when he could line up alongside Aaron Taylor-Sinclair. He is well aware of the special attention which is being paid to the visit of United – with the match also being televised – but is confident that the Partick squad will be able to tune it all out.
"It will be good to play on live television and see some old faces as well," said Taylor-Sinclair. "Once the ref blows his whistle, there will be no friends. Paul Paton, Chris Erskine, the old gaffer and Simon Donnelly will all be back but we'll be concentrating on the game.
"People say the fixtures are computerised but we doubted that when we saw who we were playing first. It obviously adds a little spice to the game and the atmosphere."
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