Airdrie and Partick Thistle were vying for promotion to the Premiership the last time they met – but Adam Frizzell is relishing a different challenge at Wyre Stadium on Saturday.

Both sides enjoyed an excellent Championship campaign last season, with Thistle edging a thrilling play-off quarter-final by four goals to three before losing out to Raith Rovers in the semi-final.

On Saturday the Jags and the Diamonds meet again as both look to turn around an inauspicious start to this year’s league campaign.

Injury-blighted Airdrie exited the SPFL Trust Trophy last weekend, losing on penalties to East Kilbride, but club captain Frizzell believes things were improving prior to that.

“Before Saturday we had two performances that were decent, we were building. Obviously we’ve taken another sort of step back on Saturday, but if we can get back to the way we were playing the weeks before that, we were probably very unlucky not to pick up three points in either game.

“It quickly turns in this league, if you get one, you get two. Confidence starts to build, and you can find yourself at the business end of the table. “

As well as the responsibility of wearing the captain’s armband, Frizzell is one of the older heads in the Diamonds’ dressing room – at just 26. The midfielder believes his younger team-mates have what it takes to get through this tricky spell.

“I find myself in a position of being one of the older players. I was talking to Janny about that on Saturday – it’s just about picking everyone up.

“We’re not a million miles away, although it feels like that when we’re losing. It just takes a wee something to turn for you to gain a bit of momentum, and I’m sure we can hit the heights again that we showed at the start of the year.

“That’s the message that’s been driven this week, and we’re really trying to get back to that.”

Airdrie return to the scene of last season’s final match this weekend, and Frizzell is looking forward to an enjoyable away day.

“It’s a place I like to go to, it’s always got a great atmosphere and a big club feel, but they’re probably on a similar path to us at the moment – just lacking a wee bit of confidence on a poor run.

“It’ll be two teams that are desperate to get three points – and it’s always a good game against them, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Although neither side have shown the form that took them to the brink of promotion last season, Partick find themselves in fifth place having played one game more that the Diamonds.

With three quarters of the season remaining, Adam believes both sides will be gunning for the play-off places again come May.

“That’s where we want to be, and I’m sure that’s where they want to be. If they’re anything like last year, they’re free-flowing and like to attack just like we do. Both teams will be looking to get back to that.

“It’s about us though – with all due respect, I feel like if we play the way we can, then we’ll definitely get the three points. That’s what we’ll look to do.”

Diamonds boss Rhys McCabe expects a typically close encounter as the old rivals look to get back to winning ways.

“I think Partick would like to be in a better vein of form as well, very similar to ourselves. I don’t think it’s set up for a 6-0 or anything like that, I think it’ll be tightly fought and closely contested.

“We’ll obviously be going into the game confident that we can build on past experiences, making sure that we go in with the attitude that Saturday and previous results have gone.

“We’ve got to try and look to the positive, because if you don’t you just end up getting yourself in a rut.”

The manager’s personnel woes continue, with defender Cammy Bruce added to the injury list after sustaining a twisted knee against East Kilbride.

Sam Graham (knee) and Dylan MacDonald (back) are expected to be fit after recovering from knocks picked up in last Saturday’s match, and Lewis McGregor (ankle) has resumed full training after missing out on Saturday.

McCabe, Aidan Wilson, Mason Hancock, Dean McMaster, Terrell Agyemang, Liam McStravick and Aaron Reid continue to miss out.

Referee Iain Snedden takes charge of his first Airdrie match this season.

Match tickets are available using the link below. Our DiamondsTV platform provider is still experiencing technical issues, and a decision on streaming will be communicated closer to kick-off.