They get the chance to see if they can repeat it against the competition’s best when they travel to Robins Oval to take on the unbeaten City United on Saturday.

Remarkably with just two wins, Thornton are only one-point outside the top four and in a superior position than they were last season when they finished with a flurry to end one win short of the top-two.

Admittedly their outright victory was against the bottom side Eastern Suburbs, who are still without a win, but it was the way they controlled momentum with contributions from across the team that impressed most.

Thunder skipper Jake Moore was sensational on day two taking five wickets in Easts’ second innings and then making a match-winning 90 not out.

But it was the Thornton middle-order and tail which set up the chance for victory by quickly reeling in their target and then setting up a 71-run lead at the start of the day. 

It was the type of adventurous and purposeful cricket which saw Thornton finish the 2017/18 regular season with six wins from their final eight games.

City will start as and deserve to be favourites on Saturday.

Their bowling has been outstanding and paceman Tim Baker took his game to a new level last week against reigning premiers Raymond Terrace claiming 6-36 off 16 straight overs.

In a worrying sign for their rivals, City’s deep batting line-up again met the challenge after a red-hot opening spell from Raymond Terrace’s Cameron Bates and Daniel Upward which had them reeling at 3-0 after two overs.

The other three games are equally intriguing with Norths (third) hosting Kurri Weston (second) in a battle for second spot.

Both teams were last round winners with the batting line-ups setting up chances for outright wins only to be denied by gutsy batting efforts.

Related news: Ian Wood returns to Northern Suburbs first grade at age 49;​ Baker’s six-wicket haul routs Raymond Terrace: Thornton claim outright win against Eastern Suburbs with last-ball four

Wests held out against Norths to deny them by two wickets and Port Stephens aggressively batted Kurri Weston out of a position to push home their advantage. 

The Plovers host Raymond Terrace with fourth spot up for grabs. The Lions should get the points.

Easts who host Port Stephens desperately need a win to remain with any chance of making the finals.

Both teams have performed better than their records show and play a positive brand of cricket. It will come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes.