GARY HARKINS believes Partick Thistle's battling Homecoming Scottish Cup third round victory at Stirling Albion could help cure their travel sickness misery on league duty.

Ian McCall's Jags have not won away from home on Irn-Bru First Division duty since August 9 when they claimed a 1-0 win at Airdrie United.

Since that victory at New Broomfield, they have managed one draw and suffered five defeats.

But Harkins said: "The win at Stirling was a massive one for us. Obviously we were without five or six regulars through injury and suspension and the defence was so depleted that I had to play centre-back.

"But all that mattered was that we got the win and made the fourth round draw - and now we face SPL opposition in Inverness Caley Thistle.

"We have got to take a lot of confidence from that win when we play Morton at Cappielow on Saturday.

"We have been really strong at Firhill and have won our last three games there, so now it is vital we start showing an ability to grind out results at places like Greenock."

Thistle were boosted by the return of skipper Alan Archibald at Forthbank and, after coming through his first game in eight months with no reaction, he will once again be available for selection.

And Harkins has no doubt the talismanic skipper's return is a massive boost at exactly the right time for Jags. The midfield ace said: "Not only is Archie probably the best defender in the First Division and one a good few of the SPL clubs would love to have in their side, he is a great leader and has real presence. These are all big pluses for us and to have got both Archie and Liam Buchanan back within a month or so of each other is massive.

"Hopefully we will get a couple of the injured lads back for the Morton game because one game at centre-half is enough for me in a season!"

Thistle's hopes of a three-point haul from Cappielow are not boosted by the history books. Last season the Jags went down 4-2 and drew 0-0, while the last away win for the Firhill side in Greenock came on January 10, 2004, when a James Grady double and a David Rowson goal handed the Firhill men a 3-0 win in a Scottish Cup third-round clash.

And Harkins admitted Thistle will have to be wary of the attacking danger of Ton wing ace Jim McAlister.

The 23-year-old said: "Morton have a lot of guys with SPL experience like Ryan McGuffie, Allan Jenkins and Erik Paartalu, who they got from Gretna. But, for me, Jim McAlister is a real threat. He can beat a man and put a decent ball in the box.

"On top of that, James Grady has come in and still seems to be able to do a job - whatever age he is!"

Harkins added: "Cappielow is a narrow pitch and I think it could come down to who comes out on top in the central areas, so we have to make sure we play with determination."