Largs boss Stuart Davidson, a.k.a Arnie, believes his players have a massive incentive to beat Kilwinning this Saturday.

This is because the Barrfields men could move off bottom spot for the first time this season, but the manager has warned that Kilwinning are in a false position and will be another tough challenge for 'Theesel'.

Indeed, the Buffs showed their quality when they recently overcame Scottish Cup holders Beith 3-1, but Largs have had plenty of close encounters with Kilwinning in recent years, and there is a strong rivalry.

Thistle travel to Abbey Park on Saturday for a 1.45pm kick-off in a game which Arnie describes as 'massive'.

And Largs will have to do it without two important players as Iain Fisher is on holiday and Kevin Struthers is unavailable, but midfielder Gary Fleming will be back in the reckoning after sitting out a three game suspension.

Thistle have been boosted by a loan extension for exciting young Morton ace Alec McWatters until the end of January.

Arnie said: "It is bottom v second bottom, and it would be a great start to the new year if we could move off the basement.

"It is a massive incentive for us, as we have been at the foot of the table all season, and now we have a big chance.

"Kilwinning pose a strong threat, and have some very attack-minded players with Carlo Monti signed from Pollok, and have a lot of experience throughout their team. They are particularly good going forward, but I'd like to think we have good players going forward too, and can hurt them.

"I am surprised that Kilwinning are in second bottom spot, given the players they have, and they have a good manager in Chris Strain, but it just goes to show you what a hard league it is, and after a few bad results, you can find yourself down there.

"But likewise, we have put in some good performances, and won three games out of the last five, some of the displays we have put in have been superb like against Hurlford, but we can't afford to let in soft goals like we did against Pollok.

"We know that if you switch off against Kilwinning at any time you can be punished, as was shown when we played them at Barrfields, we were 1-0 up, and they scored three times in a ten minute period.

"Not having Fish and Struthers is a big miss for us, but otherwise, we have a full squad to choose from. I am expecting a close match."

The Largs gaffer said that the players have worked hard over the festive break with two friendlies against Port Glasgow and Largs AFC Amateurs, and are ready for action this weekend.

Arnie concluded: "I can't overstate how massive this game is for us - it's a chance to get off the bottom and to start the year on a positive footing."