Thistle boss Stuart Davidson is urging fans to turn out in their droves for this Saturday's big Macron Scottish Cup showdown with Kilwinning.

It is a 2.15pm kick-off at Barrfields Park as Largs are looking to prevail on their home 3G where they have been unbeaten for most of the season, and recorded some memorable victories against Clydebank, Irvine Meadow and Kilbirnie Ladeside.

Davidson said: "I can't wait for Saturday and I am sure the players are feeling the same.

"Here we are in February with plenty to play for and we are in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup, and we are definitely capable of winning.

"If you were to say to me at the start of the season where do you want to be come February, I would say to stay in the league and to have a good cup run, but now we are in the quarters, that is a good cup run, and you are hungry for more.

"The players should be feeling the same - it is a massive opportunity for Largs. "We have been starved of a good cup run for a long time and we want to make it through to the semis."

Davidson is no stranger to success in the national tournament having won the Scottish Cup twice in his playing career with Auchinleck, and scoring the winner in the 2009 final against Clydebank.

He believes this Saturday's match will be an exciting contest: "It should be a good game between two evenly matched teams.

"We need the fans to come out in big numbers and support us - it gives the players a lift and the Buffs are certain to bring a good crowd.

"I feel we have done very well this season in our return to the Premiership, and the club committee deserve credit too - Peter Connor and his committee have really helped us.

"It is great to be on a cup run and I hope the people of Largs come out and support us in good numbers."

The last time both sides met at Barrfields on league business was in August where both sides fought out a 1-1 draw. It was a tale of two penalties with Maitland scoring for the hosts, and top scorer Kevin Struthers replying for the hosts.

Wing wizard Ben Black took a bad knock against St Roch's and will get assessed at training, while Mark Millar was nursing a thigh strain, and Laurie McMaster had a hamstring pull.

And influential defender Nicky Jamieson has had problems with his hamstring over recent weeks and is being assessed at training.

St Roch's goal hero Ryan McKie also picked up a shoulder injury on Saturday but should be available for selection.

Looking back on Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Abbey Park, Davidson said: "It was a disappointing outcome.

"We started with a great goal from Paul Harkins and Kilwinning responded with a great strike but I felt we could have defended it a bit better.

"We thought Harkins was tripped in the Kilwinning penalty area and we should have got a spot-kick.

"We lost two goals in a crazy two minute period - and I feel we should be defending better as a team.

"I thought both sides were pretty evenly matched, although Kilwinning did enough in the end to win the game."

"I felt at 3-1 down though we should have shown more urgency - I didn't want us to accept it and I didn't want people to think we were keeping our eye on the cup rather than the league.

"Our main aim at the start of the season was to stay in this league."

Thistle had a new signing who came off the bench against Buffs in 18 year old Ross George on the right side of midfield. Davidson said: "He has good pace and ability and featured for Stranraer and Whitletts. It is a sure sign you are getting old when you played with his dad Duncan George at Auchinleck!"

It was Thistle's first defeat in any competition since mid-November, and Thistle boss Stuart Davidson said: "That is very good going, especially to have a run like that in the Premier League.

"We have enjoyed some cracking results and we have only lost at home to Auchinleck very narrowly in the opening game of the season.

"We are confident going into this game, and we want to put on a good show for supporters this weekend."