Captain aims to hit the ground running when season kicks off

However, Raith Rover’s captain Jason Thomson didn’t see it that way and was buoyant when speaking of his side’s progress over the course of preseason.

With Partick Thistle presenting the biggest test of Gary Locke’s new Rovers team, Thomson was pleased at how his teammates dealt with the step up.

“It was a good workout first and foremost,” Thomson said when speaking to the Press.

“They’re a well established SPL team and, even though they maybe weren’t at their strongest, I think it was a decent and competitive enough game.

“Some of these games you can go into and it’s a bit of a case of going through the motions but the game was played at a decent tempo and it was definitely better than the last two against Forfar and Brechin.

“Whether we’ve just raised our game a bit with the opposition but it was again another improvement from the last two games.”

Since his arrival from Hearts in 2012 Thomson has been a mainstay in the Raith starting XI.

It is clear from the opening three friendlies that his position within the club is not likely to change either as Locke has opted to keep the Edinburgh-born full back on as club captain.

Thomson is no stranger to having to deal with notable summer departures during his time at the Rovers but insists the mood remains positive as the new season draws near.

“We finished last season and we’re just going to try and build on that success.

“It’s been going good with the new manager and backroom staff.

“There’s faces that have come and gone but the manager will be strengthening that.

“Ever since I’ve been here, especially last season, we had a great team spirit so it’s something we’ll strive to keep.”