Thornton will host promotion hunting Valentine at Thornton Park looking to make it two wins on the trot after a difficult start to the season.

The Redbacks picked up their first win of the campaign last time out, a 4-2 triumph over Singleton, having lost to Maitland, Toronto Awaba and Belmont Swansea.

McAllister acknowledged Valentine would be their toughest test yet on Saturday night.

“It will definitely be a tougher assignment,” he said.

“They (Valentine) are one of the top two teams and while we had a good result the other day we know we have to do things a lot better again if we’re going to be a chance.”

Thornton created several goal-scoring chances in the win over Singleton and could have won more comfortably than they did.

McAllister said taking their opportunities in front of goal would be vital against the bigger teams.

“It’s a positive I suppose that we created a lot of chances against Singleton,” he said.

“But we need to be more clinical, we probably had a dozen or more chances.

“If we are more clinical around the box we are a chance but we’ll have to be because they won’t give us a lot.”

Thornton will welcome back captain Steven Cummings and midfielder Mitch Olsen from injury in coming weeks in what will be a huge boost to the Redbacks squad.

Kick off on Saturday night is at 6.30pm.

In other games in round five, Maitland will host Cessnock City at Cooks Square Park on Sunday.

Maitland will need the three points to maintain their promotion challenge against Valentine and Belmont Swansea.

Maitland also played their washed out round three fixture against Valentine last night.

See tomorrow’s Mercury for a full wrap of Maitland v Valentine in the NNSW 1st Division.