Redbacks coach Al Primmer knows just how important this game is to his team’s finals hopes.

“It doesn’t get much bigger then this,” he told the Mercury.

“It’s a must win.”

Thornton have struggled in recent weeks and were flogged 4-1 by Dudley Redhead last week.

Singleton are on equal points with the Redbacks but are sitting ahead of Thornton due to their better for-and-against.

“We’ve got to win because we can’t afford to finish level with anyone,” Primmer said.

“Our for-and-against will kill us. Basically, if we can beat them it gives us a gap.

“We’ve also got to play Belmont Swansea, which is another one we’ve got to win.

“The next three at home are all big.”

Primmer told the Mercury that Thornton need to keep up their concentration if they plan to win the big games.

“Consistency has been our biggest problem,” he said.

“We haven’t been consistent all year and all the other teams are getting up there.

“If we win our last four we’re home and hosed but we’ve just got to take it one week at time.

“This week unfortunately I’ve got guys here, there and everyone – two in the snow and one in Tasmania – so even putting it together this week is going to be an even bigger task for us.

“The training shouldn’t come into it. It’ll all come down to attitude on Sunday.

“If our head’s in the right spot I’m more than confident we’ll get the three points.”

In other First Division games Maitland and Beresfield play at Pasadena Oval, Adamstown and Dudley Redhead lock horns at Adamstown Oval and Belmont Swansea and Lambton Jaffas play at Blacksmiths Oval.