TONIGHT'S trip to Ross County may not quite represent the last chance saloon for Partick Thistle's First Division title challenge but anything other than a three-point haul may well prove another nail in their coffin.

Ian McCall's men are four points behind leaders St Johnstone - with the Perth men having played a game less - but the bottom line for Jags is they must pile on the points if they are to keep up the pressure.

But this showdown at Victoria Park could not have come at a worse time given their weekend derby defeat by Clyde and the news that striker Liam Buchanan failed to prove his fitness and will not travel due to his ongoing groin problem.

And as the bus headed north today, Thistle will no doubt be reflecting that they have lost all three games against the Dingwall men this season and have also failed to find the net.

But left-back Marc Twaddle vowed Thistle will be at their most determined tonight as they attempt to dig deep for victory against the Highland outfit.

Twads said: "It is a massive game whatever way you look at it, and we need to stand up and be counted. Virtually every time we have suffered a setback this season we have responded and there has never been as important a time to do so than tonight at County.

"We know our record is poor against them and to have lost all three games is something that definitely rankles with the boys but, sometimes over the course of a season, you have a bogey team and County seem to be ours.

"That said, after the defeat by Clyde we are absolutely determined to get the win as we know anything less is going hurt us."

Twaddle added: "There is no way you can expect to lose to any side four times in the one season and hope to win a title. That is the bottom line. I don't think you can say it is down to style of play. You have to give County credit as they are a decent side who get the ball down and play and hopefully that will suit us tonight.

"But we haven't played at the top of our game in any of our matches and now is the time we have to deliver."

The Thistle stalwart has backed keeper Jonny Tuffey to return to his best tonight as he bids to bounce back from Saturday's slip, where he misjudged a pass back to hand Clyde victory.

The 22-year-old said: "For me I don't think there is any doubt that Jonny is the best keeper in the First Division. In fact, I would rate him as one of the top five in Scotland right now.

"The amount of times he has saved us over the course of the season is amazing and no-one at Thistle blames him for the defeat against Clyde. No way.

"I expect, knowing Jonny, he will get out at Victoria Park and puff his chest out and probably play a blinder and we will need him to be at his best. But there is no way Jonny will let one mistake get to him - he is just far too professional for that."

Twaddle's outstanding form on the left flank made him the subject of transfer enquiries by both St Mirren and St Johnstone during the January window, but he says he is more than happy to stick with the Jags.

He said: "The fact an SPL side have shown an interest in me is flattering, but I am really happy at Thistle and I have another season-and-a-half to go on my current deal. So, all I am interested in is doing my best for Thistle and just trying to develop and progress my game."

Simon Donnelly is out with an ankle knock and Ian Maxwell is a major doubt with the flu.