Partick Thistle goalkeeper Ryan Scully is looking to put down his marker for the new campaign against Airdrie.
The Jags travel to Lanarkshire for their first group match of the revamped Betfred Cup on Friday night.
The 23-year-old enjoyed a run of games towards the end of last season due to a foot injury to number one Tomas Cerny and is looking to make the next step, starting against the League One side.
Scully signed a two-year contract in May and admitted his desire to "establish myself as the number one keeper" with Cerny still catching up on his fitness.
"I got a taste of the action towards the end of the season," Scully said. "It was a great experience for me to play at the highest level in Scotland and it gives me the extra bit of confidence knowing I can play at that level.
"So that has given me the extra hunger to fight for the number one jersey and by the end of the season hopefully I have got that.
"With Tomas' form last year it was going to take an injury for me to step in but it is up to me now.
"If I get my chance then hopefully I can take it."
Scully, who started his career at Thistle in 2008 before loan spells at Junior side Petershill, Albion Rovers and Dunfermline, is relishing the forthcoming campaign.
He said: "It is obviously a different format this year in the League Cup but I'm looking forward to getting the competitive season under way and hopefully get a good performance against Airdrie.
"It will be good to get more minutes under the belt as well but it is a competitive game and we want to go and win it."
Ziggy Gordon declared himself fit to play after signing earlier this week and the former Hamilton player could feature at right-back with Mustapha Dumbuya (Achilles) ruled out for the long term.
Stuart Bannigan (knee), Christie Elliott (groin) and Gary Fraser (knee) are still working their way back from injury lay-offs towards the end of last season but Callum Booth could be involved after playing his first 45 minutes of pre-season last weekend, following a foot operation.
Summer signings Chris Erskine, Ade Azeez, David Syme and Danny Devine could all feature.
Source: PA
