LARGS Thistle's rich run of recent form may have come a little too late for them to mount a championship challenge - but Stuart Davidson's men could still have a big say in the outcome of the Premier Division title chase.
Thistle are preparing for a home triple header over the next eight days, with leaders Beith coming to Barrfields this Wednesday and main challengers Auchinleck Talbot on May 8, either side of a home clash with Cumnock.
One defeat in their last 12 matches, and four 1-0 wins in a row, have seen Thistle climb as high as fourth in the table - and while other teams' results have since seen them drop to fifth, Davidson's side will still present a tough test to all three of their visitors over the next week.
Beith climbed to the top of the table a week and a half ago and bounced back in style after a surprise defeat to St Cadoc's last Wednesday, with Chris Strain's men trouncing Glenafton 9-0 at Bellsdale Park on Saturday as the title momentum swung back towards the men in black and white.
Thistle's last match against Beith ended in a 4-1 loss at Bellsdale way back in August, and the Garnock Valley side have only lost two league matches away from home all season, with the two sides' recent form set to make for a mouthwatering clash on Wednesday.
Beith have also been tough opponents for Largs in recent seasons, with Thistle's only league win since 2011 coming two years ago in the form of a memorable 8-1 win at Barrfields.
But Thistle have proved in recent weeks that they're a very hard team to break down, with those four 1-0 wins suggesting Beith will have a tough job breaking down the Largs rearguard.
While star striker Will Sewell has led the line for Largs, banging in several crucial goals, Thistle's success since the turn of the year has very much been a team effort, with the likes of Darryl Duffy, David Ramsay and Scott Adam upfront have all weighed in with vital winning strikes this season.
The return from injury of goalkeeper Joe Wilton has also played a big part in Thistle's 2024 resurgence, with the keeper missing for the closing stages of 2023 when Largs were knocked out of three cup competitions in the space of a month.
That makes Wednesday's game a big opportunity for Davidson's side to flex their muscles and prove they're worthy of their position in the upper echelons of the ultra-competitive Premier Division.
Kick-off at Barrfields is at 7pm.
The second instalment of Thistle's home triple header is against a Cumnock side who have blown hot and cold throughout this campaign, and who announced the appointment last week of former Stenhousemuir boss Stephen Swift as their new manager.
Swift, however, won't take charge until after the curtain has fallen on Nock's current campaign.
Then, on May 8, Auchinleck Talbot travel to Largs, with Tommy Sloan's men still hoping to keep their title chase alive after being knocked out of both the West of Scotland Cup and the Scottish Junior Cup.
The Beechwood Park side, who defeated Largs 1-0 when the sides last locked horns in December, gave their championship hopes a boost with a 4-0 win at home to Gartcairn last week - only to lose ground on Saturday when they were held to a 2-2 draw away to struggling Arthurlie.
Saturday's game against Cumnock kicks off at 2pm, while it's a 7pm start for next Wednesday's clash with Talbot.
Thistle's campaign draws to a close away to Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on Saturday, May 11.
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