Thistle will be looking to make amends for the shocking 4-0 defeat at the hands of Brechin in pre-season when they return to Glebe Park on CIS Cup duty tonight, but while manager Dick Campbell is confident tonight's match will be a totally different affair, Brechin are likely to start favourites and are high on confidence despite their defeat to Hamilton on Saturday.
Thistle will be forced into making at least one change to their starting line-up with Jimmy Gibson (groin strain) joining Billy Gibson (ankle) on the injury list, and Campbell has revealed that loan signing Jukka Santala will make his first start in defence: "I have a couple of injury concerns and both Jimmy and Billy Gibson will miss out, both should be fit for the game at Peterhead but this one has come just a little too soon for them both," he said. "I will give Jukka his first start and that is more likely to come at the back rather than as a striker.
"I think that the supporters may be a little surprised with the line up on Tuesday. I think it will be a very tight game. Although they won a friendly match not so long ago, we were without five key players and I'm sure our supporters will see a different Thistle side this time - I think we are now a much better side than when we played them. It's a huge game for both teams - both ourselves and City will be looking for a good run in the competition, and I hope that it is us doing the celebrating at the final whistle."
Brechin City boss Ian Campbell shares his brother's belief that this game will be a much more evenly contested encounter, but has the bonus of his side being at full strength and in good form, as despite losing to Hamilton at the weekend, they were the better side and very unlucky to lose out to a last minute goal.
Campbell said: "It's the first time Dick and myself have been on opposite sides and there's a lot at stake for both teams. I reckon this could be a corker of a match because I think both Dick and I will be positive in our approach to it.
"I've got a strong pool of players here and for as well as we played at the weekend I do have the option of changing things around if I want. For example, I wasn't going to involve Alex Burns on Saturday, but having decided to go with three strikers I felt it would be handy to have him on the bench if we needed to change things around, and he could now feature against Thistle."
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