Can I use jQuery nth child to receive the button clicked?

I am trying to write my first script (a slideshow).

I would like to have my thumbs clickable to take you to specific slides. Can I use something like nth child to find out which link is being clicked so that I know what slide to move to?

So far I have this:

function changeSlide() {

//Get id of link calling
var clicked = $(this).attr("id");

 //Get the 开发者_如何学JAVAcurrent slide and thumb
 var currentSlide = $('ul.slideshow li.show');      
 var currentThumb = $('ul.thumbs li.show'); 

 var nextSlide = $('ul.slideshow').nth-child(clicked);

My idea was that I would then use these variables to animate the current slide/thumb out and fade the next slide/thumb in. As I dont know how many slides/thumbs there would be, I would like to be able to select them by their sibling number, does this make sense?

I know its not much, i know just enough to be dangerous. Any help to keep me going down the right path is appreciated!

======= EDIT ========

I think I may be on to something, would index() be a good match for this?

Here is a link to the script ---> Slideshow

Change

//Add changeSlide call to anchor tags
$('ul.thumbs li a').attr('onClick', 'changeSlide(' + speed + ')');

to

//Add changeSlide call to anchor tags
$('ul.thumbs li a').click(function(){
    changeSlide(speed, this);
});

and

function changeSlide(speed) {

    //Get id of link calling
    var clicked = $(this);

to

function changeSlide(speed, el) {

    //Get id of link calling
    var clicked = $(el);