Dunfermline striker Pat Clarke has said that he knows only his best form will keep him in the first team.
The former Dundee forward admitted that competition has been strengthened by the signing of former Partick Thistle hitman Liam Buchanan, and will have to be on his toes if he is to be chosen to face the Jags on Saturday.
Clarke played up front with Buchanan when the pair were both at Cowdenbeath and he said he is looking forward to the challenge for a striking spot at East End Park.
He said, “I’ve scored a few goals since signing but I just want to stay in the team and get more goals every striker is the same.
“My aim is to score as many as I can. Andy Kirk is doing well I think he is up to around 14 this season so I want to keep on scoring and keep up with him.”
Clarke said the Pars need to add another three points to their tally if they are to continue their promotion challenge.
He said, “We need to go to Firhill and get a result it’s another big game.
“It’s still tight at the top of the table so we have to get the three points.”
Of the Pars’ recent fixtures, he added, “I was hoping the bad weather had finished but it came back to bite us with the Stirling game being called off. It’s just Scottish football.”‘Frustrating’He added, “The Thistle game is another game to look forward to.
“The Scottish Cup game was frustrating, going up to Montrose, and I thought we would see the game out after going 2-1 up but it wasn’t to be.
“They managed to get a last-minute equaliser. It was frustrating but that’s what happens in the cup when you don’t finish teams off.”
Clarke said, “Thistle are always an attacking threat, they’ve still got good players, so we need to be on our toes and ready for their threat. We need to put our game towards them.”
Former St Johnstone and Partick midfielder Martin Hardie has been training with the Pars this week, as manager Jim McIntyre considers his options to further bolster his squad.
Hardie is a free agent after being allowed to leave Saints due to injury problems. He had been on loan at Partick, and it was hoped he would return to McDiarmid Park ready for first-team action.
However, his injury problems continued and he was allowed to leave by the Perth club at the end of last year.