By Bert Mitchell Partick Thistle striker Mark Roberts is hoping his side's Homecoming Scottish Cup fourth draw with Inverness is a good omen.

Marko is the only survivor from the Jags side that dumped Caley out of the cup on penalties at the same stage via a memorable replay win at Firhill, on February 15, 2006.

That victory saw the Jags progress to the first of three money-spinning quarter-final runs on the bounce before they were beaten by eventual winners Hearts.

And it was Roberts' double up the road, which included a last-minute penalty, that brought Inverness to Firhill after a hard fought 2-2 draw.

Roberts said: "It is amazing to think I am the only Partick player left from that game - it just shows the turnaround in playing personnel.

"But we have a lot more quality in the dressing room now, and of course back then we were in the Second Division, and now we are looking to get to the SPL.

"So what we have here is the chance to test ourselves against a team who are where we want to be, and it is good to know we have been up the road and more than held our own before.

"Looking back, that first tie was a real battle. Although I put us in front they came back strongly and got the penalty right at the death. That was a real bottle job, and thankfully, I kept my nerve and put it away.

"When it came to the replay I scored again and it ended 1-1. Although I scored one of the penalties it was Will Snowdon who scored the winning spot-kick after Kenny Arthur had pulled off a couple of great saves.

"So, like I say, knowing that we managed to get past them then with a weaker side I think we have got to go up the road fancying we can do something and knowing that all the pressure is on them, big time.

"The other thing is that in my time with Thistle, Inverness are the only SPL side we have beaten in cup competition."

Roberts has now set himself a target of reclaiming his starting place in the Thistle team in time for the clash, after enjoying a frustrating spell with a calf injury.

He said: "It hasn't been the best first half of a season I have had. I got a hamstring injury on the opening day and then I did my calf on the way back, but it was great to get on against Stirling last weekend, and now I just want to re-establish myself in the side.

"Hopefully, I did enough at Forthbank to stay involved for Saturday's trip to Morton."

Jags boss Ian McCall has revealed that club captain Alan Archibald suffered no reaction to the third round win over the Binos after making his comeback following eight months out injured.

McCall said: "Archie has come through fine and although he was pretty tired on Monday he will be the better for the Stirling game.

"We will also have both Simon Storey and Willie Kinniburgh back from suspension for Saturday, while John Robertson and Stephen McKeown may also recover from injury in time for that."

Reflecting on the cup draw at Inverness, McCall admitted he had no complaints.

He said: "When you look at the cup draws we have had over the last year with Rangers both in the Scottish Cup and then the Co-operative Cup it is fair enough.

"But although it will be tough we have a chance That is all you can ask of an away draw against a side from a league above."