DENIZ MEHMET is hoping he and his Pars pals can book a Scottish Cup fifth round place for the first time in six years this weekend.

James McPake's League One leaders, who are seven points clear at the summit after Mehmet's 12th shut-out in 20 league matches helped them to victory over Peterhead on Saturday, will travel west on Saturday to tackle Championship Partick Thistle at Firhill.

The Jags, fourth in their division, knocked Dunfermline out of the competition last season, one of six meetings that took place between them in league and cup, four of which were in Glasgow.

This time around, however, there is a real momentum surrounding Athletic, who have lost just twice all season – away to Ross County, in the group stages of the Viaplay Cup, and at Montrose in the league – and Mehmet says it's a challenge he and his team-mates are looking forward to.

"Even in the play-offs last year, we were there for the Queen's Park first leg. It's a familiar ground for most of the boys who were here last year," he told Press Sport.

"It'll be a good test for us; we're looking forward to it. Obviously, they probably are the favourites, being in the division above us, but I think there's always that pressure, no matter what game it is or who you're playing against. There's a pressure to try and do well.

"If we can get a cup run going, then brilliant. It would be nice, and it's good for the club as well, for what it can bring financially I suppose, but the league is our main priority.

"I'm sure it's going to be a big turnout to go down there on Saturday. There always seems to be a decent away support, no matter how near or far the game is, so it's good to give them something to look forward to as well and have a positive feeling about.

"We're very aware they didn't have that much last season but, hopefully, we've been able to give it to them more than we did last year. If we can give them that in a different aspect, rather than the league, then that would be nice as well."

With the club's aspirations geared towards making an immediate return to the second tier, Mehmet believes the game can provide a gauge of how they are shaping up, and continued: "It's a good one to see where we are as a group, and see how we come up against a good side on Saturday.

"Every game that you play, you see it as a marker as to where you are, whether it be good or bad, but I think these cup games help really look into that aspect of it all because, obviously, we're a League One side at the moment, and they're a Championship club.

"They've always been a decent side. Even when they were in our situation, and they got relegated to League One, they had a very good squad and were a very tough team to play against.

"Ultimately, we would like to hopefully be a Championship club next year, but every team in our league is looking for that as well. Everyone wants to progress, you always want more."

Meanwhile, Partick Thistle have said that undersoil heating, and pitch covers, have been used to ensure there are "no issues" with tomorrow's game going ahead.

In an update released earlier, they said: "Having received a number of enquiries relating to the playing surface, from both home and away supporters, we can confirm that the undersoil heating system has been in continuous operation since Wednesday.

"Pitch protection measures had already been taken with the utilisation of pitch covers since early this week which protected the surface ahead of the frosty spell over the last few days.

"The undersoil heating will remain on through to Saturday, with the pitch covers lifted on Saturday morning to ensure no issues with the surface for tomorrow’s Scottish Cup tie.

"The surrounding areas at Firhill will be treated, if required, to ensure a safe and clear arrival for all spectators attending tomorrow’s fixture with Dunfermline Athletic."

Tickets for the game can be bought online from Partick Thistle, with Pars fans being housed in the Colin Weir Stand.