BATTLE-hardened Darren Brady is adamant Partick Thistle can overcome their injury crisis and dump Dunfermline out of the Scottish Cup.

The Jags have been rocked by the news that key players Simon Donnelly, Billy Gibson, Barry Smith and Derek Young are all struggling for the trip to East End Park.

However, Brady, who inspired the Firhill club to a timely 1-0 triumph over Livingston at Almondvale on Saturday, reckons they can cope without them.

For he thinks the win - which ended a seven-game winless streak in the First Division - has boosted his team's flagging confidence ahead of the cup quarter-final.

"We had gone seven games without winning, and the victory will give us a lift. In particular, keeping a clean sheet was important," reasoned Darren.

"Livingston are a very good side, so to prevent them from finding the back of the net has given us an awful lot of self-belief. We all know the game against Pars this weekend will be difficult, but are confident we can go away from home again and win.

"The game last Saturday was all about grinding out a result. Some of the football played wasn't very good, but everybody worked their socks off.

"I think Dunfermline will have better quality players than Livingston, and maybe they will let us play a bit more than Livi did."

With a semi-final date at Hampden - which will bank the Maryhill club in the region of £250,000 - at stake, Jags fans will be hoping Brady is right.

One thing is for certain, the midfield dynamo - who was kicked up and down the park at the weekend, will be up for the game against his team's SPL rivals.

"Sure, I did come in for a bit of rough treatment against Livi, but you have to expect that in the First Division.

"But it was worth it as the win has given us all a bit of much-needed confidence going into the cup game with Pars."

In particular, Brady feels striker Allan Russell will have had his spirits lifted after scoring his first goal in six matches.

Darren said: "I think scoring his first goal will give Al a massive boost. The only one finding the net with any regularity has been Mark Roberts.

"It has been difficult for Al coming back to Scotland from down south, but we all had faith he would come good - we see what a threat he is in front of goal in training every day."

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old has praised both Alan Archibald and Barry Smith for helping to shore up the Thistle defence since arriving in the January transfer window.

"Bringing in Archie and Barry has been a huge help to our defence. They are both experienced professionals who have played at the top level in Scotland.

"Having players of their experience and quality is always going to help out teams in this division. For instance, young Scott Boyd has flourished since Archie returned here from Dundee United."