A shot!!

Dom Thomas cuts inside onto his left foot, and hits one from distance, but it's straight at David Mitchell in the Thistle goal.

The perils of being a mascot, I suppose.

On the pitch, Calum Ferrie just about gets to a ball over the top before Thistle midfielder Scott Tiffoney, who must have thought he was in on goal.

It's good goalkeeping in the end.

Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland at Firhill

This has been a bit cagey, eh?

An awful lot riding on it - and it’s showing.

It need of a bit of a spark. Kingsley the mascot actually lost a spike earlier, so, aye, maybe one of those nights…

Twenty minutes gone at Firhill and we're still waiting for the first shot of the game.

Feels like both teams are playing it a bit safe - understandable, with what's at stake.

Image source, SNS

There's not a lot happening, if truth be told.

The highlight of the game so far has been a stunning first touch from Steven Lawless, the wee Thistle midfielder killing a cross-field pass dead under pressure from Thomas Robson.

James McFadden approved on commentary, which tells you all you need to know.

A fun bit of trivia from my colleagues on the TV...

The last time Queen's Park finished above Partick Thistle in the league was 1935.

Thistle will want to keep it that way - and they win a corner after Stephen Eze is forced to head behind.

An early talking to for Thistle skipper Ross Docherty after a hefty challenge on Jack Thomson.

Let him know you're there early.

Referee Willie Collum peeps his whistle, and we are off...

Incredibly jealous, Amy.

The players are out at Firhill. Who do you fancy for this one? Thumbs up for Thistle, thumbs down for Queen's.

Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland at Firhill

I’ve just had a hug from Kingsley the mascot.

Don’t really mind what else happens tonight, now.

Queen's Park head coach Owen Coyle has also been giving his thoughts to BBC Scotland before this crucial game.

"We want to be positive, and get back to our level of performance," Coyle says.

"The last couple of games we haven't, but we could and should have won the Arbroath game. There's fine margins in this league. We come here against a very good team, a team in form, and it's got the makings of a very good game.

"We know if we perform well then we'll win games. It's very much a work in progress what we're trying to do. We're here on merit - it's an exciting time of the season.

"We need to get back to passing and moving the ball - when we do that we can cause anybody problems."

Image source, SNS

Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan has been speaking to BBC Scotland with his side looking to go just three points behind Queen's at the top of the table.

"Across the piece, momentum has been key," he says. "We knew we'd get the reaction against Cove because of the players we have - we work ever so hard in training.

"That's what we're capable of - to go and score five, and keep the clean sheet, I was delighted with last weekend.

"It's about us, not what Queen's Park do. Our attitude is that we fix [this season's record against Queen's] tonight. We're at home, it's all set up perfectly, the players are really confident."

Image source, SNS

There might be another Glasgow derby taking place this weekend, but for Thistle, it's been an bruising time of it against their city rivals this term.

All three fixtures between the sides this season have ended in Queen's victories, with an aggregate score of 9-2.

That included a sensational 4-0 rout in the previous encounter at Firhill, when a Josh McPake double, as well as goals from Tommy Robson and Stephen Eze, handed the Spiders a spectacular derby win.

In a title race this tight, anything but a win can spell disaster for the league leaders. The chasing pack need no invitation.

That's why two defeats on the bounce have felt so damaging for Queen's Park, first up at relegation-threatened Arbroath and then away to play-off hunting Raith Rovers last weekend.

Dundee's game in hand could see Owen Coyle's side fall out of the automatic promotion spot, meaning a result tonight could be crucial to their ambitions of a third consecutive promotion.

Image source, SNS

Those in Maryhill might ask that you whisper it quietly, but as it stands, Partick Thistle are still in with a chance of lifting the Championship title this season.

When Kris Doolan came in to steady the ship after Ian McCall's shock departure, they were 10 points off league leaders Queen's. A win tonight would cut that gap to just three.

Although they were only a point out of the play-offs when McCall left, there was a sense that their season was meandering towards mediocrity. Doolan has galvanised his squad into a more dynamic and determined team, qualities they'll need in abundance tonight if they are to climb up to third.

Image source, SNS

Owen Coyle makes two changes to the Queen's XI that went down 2-0 away to Raith Rovers last weekend.

Stephen Eze starts at the back in place of the suspended Charlie Fox, while young Aaron Healy comes in on the wing with Josh McPake dropping to the bench.

Kris Doolan makes just one change to the Thistle side that thrashed Cove Rangers 5-0 last time out.

Darren Brownlie replaces Lee Hodson at left-back, while the influential Scott Tiffoney starts his 10th game on the spin.

"There are still potentially four teams capable of winning the league."

That's the position of former Partick Thistle and Ayr United player Steven Bell, who believes his two former clubs are in with a chance alongside top two Queen's Park and Dundee.

With just a handful of games to go, the title race should make for engrossing viewing, especially given the number of clashes slated between the quartert chasing glory.

Read more of Steven's thoughts here, or have a listen to his appearance on the Scottish Football Podcast, where he joined Amy Canavan and Alasdair Lamont to discuss all things second tier.

Image source, SNS

Partick Thistle: Mitchell, McMillan, Muirhead, Holt, Brownlie, Docherty (C), Bannigan, Tiffoney, Turner, Lawless, Graham.

Substitutes: Sneddon, Dowds, Smith, McKinnon, Mullen, Fitzpatrick, Owens, Lyon, Stevenson.

Queen's Park: Ferrie, Oakley, Kilday, Eze, Robson (C), Thomson, Boateng, Healy, Savoury, Thomas, Shields.

Substitutes: Heraghty, Longridge, Henderson, McPake, Davidson, Bruce, Williamson, Bannon, Jarrett.

Hope we're all having a Good Friday! It's hard not to with the sunny Scottish weather, and the mouth-watering prospect of some top-of-the-table Championship action.

Partick Thistle and Queen's Park meet in a Glasgow derby with serious title ramifications.

Can the league leaders recover from their late season stutter, or will Thistle continue their surge and cause chaos in the title picture? Let's find out...

Image source, SNS