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Ross County must get the better of Stirling Albion for the first time this season to keep alive their Bell's Second Division promotion hopes.
County have Ayr United striker Alex Bone until the end of the season and he looks set to make his debut.
County will be without suspended skipper Kenny Gilbert.
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While Ross County struggled in difficult conditions for over 30 minutes against Stirling Albion last Saturday, the remainder of the game offered up some of the finest attacking football seen at Victoria Park in recent memory.
The players have to be applauded for their grit and determination, but not least for the quality of their football and the display was rightly warmly received from their critics at the Jail End.
There was not an under-performer in the side and each of the starting eleven deserve fulsome praise.
Man-of-the-match George Shaw is proving an increasingly popular figure with the fans given his terrier-like displays in attack wide on the right. His two goals also helped to increase the striker's growing number of admirers.
Shaw, a well-travelled professional who has had spells at clubs including Dundee, Dunfermline and St Mirren - not to mention Partick Thistle - knows he will face a wee bit of stick from the side-lines this weekend.
The striker said: "It looks like we can clinch promotion if we beat Partick here tomorrow. It's going to be an incredibly hard game, though, and a very big game for everyone involved with this club.
"I'll take pelters in that match, I know it. As soon as I came heree to Ross County, Partick fans started giving me no end of stick.
And Shaw added: "The Partick fans have all got very short memories. I gave them the best years of my life. They haven't beaten Celtic at Parkhead since I left!."
After a close-fought opening, County went on to avenge a trio of league defeats by Stirling Albion with a thumping 5-1 win in lashing rain at Victoria Park.
The match only just passed a late pitch inspection in driving rain and Shaw revealed that the referee came close to calling the game off at half time after ordering the pitch markings to be re-done.
Shaw said: "We didn't think there was any doubt that the pitch was playable, but the referee told us before the game he would call a halt to it if it became farcical.
"Then at half time, with us 2-0 up, he popped his head around the door and told us to stay in for another five or ten minutes while work was carried out on the pitch.
"I thought then - here we go, we're not going to finish this victory, but thankfully the groundstaff and young kids did their bit in sorting the surface out during the break.
"It was very hard to play football in those conditions, but I think that it is credit to the players that we recorded our biggest win of the season.
"We've taken a long time to gel, with seven or eight new players settling in, but I think in the last few weeks the people who come to see us have appreciated the way we've worked hard for our victories.
"But if you look for a reaon for our sudden improvement what can you say? Derek Ferguson is the key - he's been fantastic in midfield.
"You don't get any time on the ball in this league and what players lack in skill they make up for in enthusiasm and work rate. I played in the Premier Division last season and this is the toughest league I've been involved in."
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Partick Thistle manager John Lambie yesterday tried to unsettle Ross County with a touch of psychology ahead of their potential promotion clincher at Victoria Park today.
The Jags boss told The Ross-shire Journal he had already written off the Firhill club's chances of making a top three finish in Division Two.
And while Lambie, a wily old warhorse who has won more than a few games in his time, does now need a large dose of luck to unseat Alloa or Ross County, his words should fool no-one.
With a big travelling support and possibly County's biggest home crowd of the season expected, Partick are preparing for the game as they would a cup final.
Lambie, claiming he had already turned his thoughts to next season's Second Division promotion campaign, said: "I've already accepted that Ross County and Clyde are up. I'd also say Alloa are odds-on to accompany them.
"My task now is to put together a team for next season capable of getting us out of this league. It's a big job at this club, but the finance is jst not there.
"Unfortunately, I don't have the resources of Ross County at my disposal to buy my way out of the league.
"That said, I've got nothing but admiration for their chairman for the way he has put his money where his mouth is and funded the club's ambitions. Scottish football could do with a few more like that.
Partick have former Caley striker Scott McLean out injured and there are doubts over several regulars including ex-County loan player Danny Lennon, while experienced Ray Montgomerie is suspended. Albert Craig returns from his ban.
Lambie added: "We are a bit stretched for the trip north but we've just got to get on with it. Where there's breath there's still life and we've no fears for the game.
"We've come from a teriible start to our season, during which people would have settled just to be certain of avoiding relegation.
"But people are greedy in life and we are victims of our own success - everyone has been shouting for promotion since our recovery began to take place.
Whether or not Lambie truly believes his side are out of the running, a defeat for County today would leave the Dingwall men still requiring two wins to hoist themselves into next season's new-look First Division.
Victory puts their place beyond doubt, but manager Neale Cooper is neither prepared to talk about clinching promotion nor contemplate easing up should he achieve the feat for the second year running.
Cooper said: "I don't know what the situation is regarding clinching promotio. I honestly don't look at it too closely.
"After stuttering all season, we've gone on a great run of late and all the players are desperate to finish the season on a high.
"The Partick game is obviously a big one but we just want to keep winning until the end of the season."
County have been handed a big boost with the news that midfielder Derek Ferguson's suspension won't kick in until after the Partick game.
Although the former Rangers mid-field player was sent off in his County debut against Partick at Firhill, he has since proved arguably Cooper's finest signing with some wonderfully creative displays
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Ross County manager Neale Cooper does not want his team's promotion party to go flat for the second consecutive week.
If County beat lowly Queen of the South at Dumfries today and other results go their way then Cooper and his squad could be toasting a remarkable rise from the Third Division to the First Division in just two seasons.
But Cooper warned: "Queen of the South are not a bad side and their recent victories over Clyde and Alloa have proved that and they'll be up for the game because they are still fighting for their Second Division future."
The County manager expects a marked improvement in his side's display after last week's anti-climax against Partick.
He added: "I was disappointed last week with the result, but it was a big game for both sides. We tried to play the game down, even though we could have won promotion, because we didn't want to put too much pressure on the players.
"To be fair, for the first 20 minutes we played well but couldn't get the goal and they scored with their only shot of the half. Partick were well up for the game and they deserved to win.
"I was probably a bit harsh on the players last Saturday night after we lost our chance against Partick because when I went home I thought about things. The players have done well in recent weeks to get us back into this position and I probably went over the top but we sorted things out during the week."
County could welcome back goalkeeper Nicky Walker, Kenny Gilbert and Roy McBain, but Derek Ferguson and Craig Tully are both suspended.
The Doonhamers have co-manager George Rowe and Andy Aitken back from suspension, but they lose Steve Mallan.
Rowe said: "This game is probably more important to us than it is to Ross County. We know that defeat would all but end our chances of staying up, whereas County will have another chance next week.
"I am confident that we can stay up and we have proved that we are a good side."
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Ross County skipper Brian Irvine is set to miss the Highlanders' promotion-clinching end to the season.
The inspirational former Aberdeen and Dundee star suffered a gash above his eye in Saturday's victory at Queen of the South after a clash of heads with teammate Kenny Gilbert.
Gilbert was able to continue after having a cut stitched up, but the concussed Irvine was immediately rushed to hospital for treatment.
Although the 34-year-old's condition was not as bad as County officials initially feared, team manager Neale Cooper confirmed that Irvine is almost certainly out of the club's last three matches.
Cooper said: "Brian has a really serious gash above his eye, but it could have been a lot worse.
"Kenny wanted to continue and was able to play on after we stitched him up, but Brian was really groggy and it was far too serious to take any chances.
"He was taken to hospital and when we collected him afterwards we found out it was just a severe gash above his eye. The first thing he wanted to know was how the match finished, because he hadn't heard the score in the hospital.
"He'll certainly be struggling for the next few games, which is a blow for us and a real shame for him."
County need one point from their final three matches to win promotion to Division 1 and they can clinch it next week at Hamilton Accies.
However, Cooper warned: "It's not a formality. Accies have already beaten us twice this season and it will be difficult going to Firhill and trying to get anything."
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Brian Irvine's hopes of helping Ross County to clinch promotion to the Bell's First Division have been dashed by doctors.
The former Aberdeen and Dundee defender looked set to line up against troubled Hamilton tomorrow after joining his team-mates for training this week.
Irvine was taken to hospital last Saturday after suffering a nasty head injury in the 3-0 win at Queen of the South, a victory which leaves County needing just one point from their last three games to move up a flight.
But doctors today told Irvine that X-rays reveal a stress fracture, effectively ruling the big defender out for the rest of the season.
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Ross County today travel to Firhill in a bid to secure that elusive promotion point from relegation-threatened Hamilton Accies.
But they make the trip without former Aberdeen and Scotland central defender Brian Irvine.
Doctors took another look at X-rays taken after Irvine's head clash with teammate Kenny Gilbert at Queen of the South last Saturday.
Irvine has a stress-fracture adjacent to the eyebrow wound which required seven stitches at Dumfries.
County manager Neale Cooper is disappointed by the setback but believes his players are in the right frame of mind.
He said: "Obviously, it's a blow that Brian is out, especially as he has been able to train all week. But he will now go into hospital in Inverness to have things checked out and will certainly miss the remaining games in the season.
"Spirits are high in the camp at the moment, although after the decision to deduct 15 points from Hamilton, the Accies are now battling for survival in the Second Division. We know we need only a point, but there's no way we will be going to Firhill just to play for a draw. They have beaten us twice this season and we know it will be a hard game, but if we do secure that promotion point it will ease the pressure and make the season's final two games a bit more relaxed.
"It has been great to have Nicky Walker back in goal and he has been looking tremendous in training. There's no doubt he'll enjoy going back to a ground where he spent so many seasons with Partick Thistle."
Meanwhile, midfield dynamo Kenny Gilbert continues to stun his critics by turning in fighting performances while having vision in only one eye due to an on-going medical problem.
Cooper said: "Kenny's dedication and commitment on the park has been amazing and he'll certainly play against Hamilton."
County add defender Martin Canning to the travelling squad.
If County win or draw, the fans can look forward to a carnival atmosphere in next week's last home game against Stranraer.
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As Ross County manager Neale Cooper celebrated the Dingwall side's rise to the First Division, he still found time to commiserate with a Hamilton side destined to play its football in Division Three next season.
The Scottish Football League last week deducted 15 points from Hamilton, who had failed to fulfil a fixture against Stenhousemuir. That punishment, combined with Saturday's 3-0 home defeat, was enough to relegate Accies.
An emotional Cooper said: "I'm really chuffed that we have done what not many clubs can claim and go from the Second Division to the First Division at the first time of asking.
"However, our joy must be tempered by sparing a thought for Hamilton Accies, who have been relegated thanks to a punishment which does seem severe and I'm very disappointed for them."
Cooper reflected on what has been a challenging season for him personally.
He added: "I've experienced a lot of highs and lows throughout the season, but I'm sure that everyone at the club is relieved that we've achieved promotion and have still an outside chance of taking the title if Clyde slip up over the next two games.
"We can now look forward to renewing our derby games with Caley Thistle and it's tremendous that the Highlands will have two teams in the First Division.
"When I came here four seasons ago, our target was to reach the First Division within five years and we've managed to do that with 12 months to spare.
"We know that we will have to strengthen the squad for next term and some of our existing players will make way for others coming in, but now we are promoted we can relax a bit and look forward to a big crowd coming to celebrate at Saturday's home game against Stranraer."
George Shaw scored twice for County - the second from the penalty spot after Gary Lynn handled Paul Kinnaird's cross - and Alex Bone was also on target.
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Newly promoted Ross County hope to add to the party atmosphere at Victoria Park this afternoon by welcoming back former Scotland centre half Brian Irvine and taking all three points from Stranraer to keep their slim title hopes alive.
The Dingwall men are four points behind leaders Clyde with only two games to play with County needing to win both those games and hope for Arbroath and, ironically, this afternoon's visitors to do them a favour.
A huge crowd is expected to welcome County after they clinched a First Division berth last weekend after that 3-0 win over Hamilton Accies and boss Neale Cooper is adamant his men, including skipper Irvine, will put on a show for County's tremendous support.
Cooper said: "It's tremendous that the medical men have decided that Brian doesn't need an operation after that severe injury just above his eye and as he's trained well all week he is in the squad for the Stranraer game along with Derek Ferguson, who returns after suspension.
"We can relax and, hopefully, give our tremendously loyal support a treat now that the pressure to get promotion is off.
"It's been a frustrating season after starting with high expectations and although it's been a long hard road, we're now heading for the First Division and that's very pleasing."
Cooper added: "Our fans have been brilliant throughout the season and on behalf of the players and myself I'd like to thank them all for valued support. We even have a slim chance of winning the league but we need to win our last two games and see how results go elsewhere."
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