ALAN ARCHIBALD claims his Partick Thistle team-mates must slap on the blinkers ahead of Sunday's visit of Dundee.

The Jags captain admits it has been hard to adopt a one-game-at-a-time approach that will be essential to Jags' hopes of catching and overhauling leaders St Johnstone.

Archie, who has been over the promotion course before with Thistle in the never-to-be-forgotten campaign of 2001-02, says total concentration on the next 90 minutes is vital.

"We have worked really hard to get back to a single point off St Johnstone," he said, "and to get our first win in Dunfermline in 26 years was a massive result. However, that has gone, and all that matters is the Dundee game.

"They had a good win over Ross County last weekend and are just six points behind us with two games in hand, so they will be coming to Firhill and thinking this is a crucial game for them. Win it and they will fancy their chances, so we must focus on getting our performance right on Sunday.

"Going back to season 2001/02, I remember John Lambie had us totally focused on the next 90 minutes, and did everything possible to shut out distractions. We must try and do that again.

"There is no point saying we have St Johnstone next, this game has a lot of importance on its own. Last weekend, we managed to deal a real blow to Dunfer- mline's promotion hopes. This time we have got to do the same to Dundee."

Archibald has been in immense form over the last two games away from home, leading by example with a series of superb blocks and perfectly timed tackles at Ross County and then Dunfermline as the Jags bounced back from their painful derby defeat by Clyde at Firhill.

However, while his own form has been inspirational, the galvanising effect he has on those around him has never been clearer. Quite simply, Archie is the rock on which the Firhill rearguard is built.

All of that only underlines how important his contribution will be to Thistle over the run-in, and Archie's determination to lead from the back is palpable.

The Jags captain said: "We have lost two of our last three home games, and that is not good enough. If we are going to take this challenge all the way, we have to win at Firhill and Dundee are going to represent a massive challenge in that regard.

"In the last home game we let the fans down against Clyde. We know there will be a big support on Sunday, and this time it is vital we deliver."

The game is live on BBC Alba and kicks off at 3.15pm.

Jags boss Ian McCall has doubts over Paul Paton, Simon Donnelly and Stephen McKeown, but John Robertson should be available.

McCall is also understood to have been impressed with the contribution of the trialists who played in the 2-0 Reserve League Cup defeat by Clyde on Tuesday and will have another look at the hopefuls, who hail from the Juniors and East of Scotland league.

Off the field, as part of Archi-bald's testimonial year, there will be a Question of Sport Thistle Style in the Alan Rough Lounge at Firhill tonight. Tickets, priced £10, are still available from the club. The four-team competition starts at 7pm and will include the current Thistle management and a Jags legends team, including Alex Rae and Frank Coulston.