Alan Archibald confident Partick will handle the pressure at Kilmarnock

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald has denied a "fear factor" will affect his side at Kilmarnock - because his team have played through it most of the season.

Killie boss Lee Clark questioned whether the Jags players would be affected by the unexpected threat to their Premiership status when they travel to Rugby Park on Saturday with their lead over the 11th-placed team cut to six points.

Thistle were a goal away from making the top six but three consecutive defeats - including a 4-1 home loss to Inverness last time out - have left them with work to do to avoid a play-off.

However, they were bottom of the table until October and Archibald has backed his players to play their way out of trouble again.

When asked whether the fear factor would get to his players, he said: "No, because we have been in this position all season, believe it or not. Since December time a couple of victories took us up to sixth or seventh and a couple of bad defeats take us down again.

"It's the same position we have been in most of the season, so it's not new to the players.

"We had a terrible run at the start of the season. We got a response and we expect the same again this weekend."

Archibald admits his team are "well aware" of the relegation danger.

"But we are still in control of our destiny and we know that, and that's the way it must remain," he said.

"It was a horrible performance last weekend, we are not getting away from that, but it's put to bed now.

"We move forward towards Kilmarnock and we go there with confidence, knowing that it's in our hands. If we win that game we are safe."

The uncertainty did not stop Thistle announcing a new three-year contract for Archibald and assistant Scott Paterson on Wednesday.

"It's been done for a week or so," he said. "It gives me the confidence, the board have confidence in me as well.

"These things don't happen in a day or two, we have been speaking for a few weeks. It doesn't happen after a 4-1 defeat."