CHRIS ERSKINE reckons Forfar will go to war with Partick Thistle in tonight's Alba Challenge Cup second-round clash at Station Park.

The former Junior was on the receiving end of some brutal tackling from Ross County in Saturday's 0-0 First Division draw.

Erskine reckons Thistle can expect another rough ride in Angus tonight from the team bossed by ex-Jags manager Dick Campbell.

He said: "I think it could be pretty physical up at Forfar. They are going to want to lay down a marker early on and I expect a few big tackles from them early doors.

"I hear Station Park is a pretty tight ground so I don't know that we are going to get the opportunity to play much football.

"Although it is a tie away from home, it is against Third Division opposition and we have to make the most of that.

"But they have plenty of experience in their ranks and, in Dick Campbell, a very experienced manager who used to be the gaffer at Thistle, so there is no doubt he will have them well up for it."

Thistle landed Forfar at Firhill in last season's Co-operative Cup in a tie that required extra time for the Jags to earn a 4-3 first- round win.

Their goals that night came courtesy of a Damon Gray double and strikes from Scott Chaplain and Stephen McKeown. While Gray and Chaplain have both moved on, McKeown will be suspended after receiving a straight red for violent conduct against County at the weekend.

But after starting in Thistle's fixture with County and starring against Liverpool in the Alan Archibald testimonial, Erskine is desperate to feature again at Forfar.

The Jags star said: "I want to play in every game that we play. So it doesn't matter to me whether it is in the cups or in the league, I want to be playing.

"With the level of competition we have in the side you don't want to be sitting any games out or it is going to be very tough to get back in.

"But it has been great to be involved as much as I have and I feel like I am learning all the time."

It will be interesting to see if Thistle boss Ian McCall includes target man Jim Hamilton in the starting line-up tonight as the former Buddie made a difference when he entered the fray against County on Saturday.

Bryan Hodge also provided some spark in a very subdued midfield and seems a certainty to start at Station Park with McKeown suspended Skipper Alan Archibald is also likely to get some game time after being held in reserve against County last time out.

Looking back at Saturday's disappointing 0-0 with County, Erskine admitted he had been surprised by the Highlanders approach.

He said: "I think it got a bit out of hand with the sendings-off. They put in some very tough tackles and I guess it was quite brutal at times.

"Certainly some of these tackles were worse than what I have experienced in the Juniors with Kilbirnie. But it wasn't much of a game and about the only things we can take from it were the clean sheet and the point.

"But with it being our first home game it was disappointing not to take all three points."

Tonight's game will come too soon for recovering striker Liam Buchanan who is expected to be fit for Saturday's trip to Queen of the South.

Meanwhile, Forfar gaffer Dick Campbell has vowed to make it tough for his former club.

He said: "Thistle know we will come at them. It almost worked last year when we took the lead twice before losing 4-3 in extra-time in the Co-op Cup.

"I am looking forward to a right good, old fashioned cup-tie and, hopefully, we can make home advantage count.

"We have started this season well with wins over teams from higher leagues and this game is a reward for that."