But coach Corey Adams is not taking anything for granted.
Two weeks ago, while Napier Marist's first team were away beating Levin 4-3, their reserves had a 6-3 home win against Western Rangers.
It only goes to show one thing: you can never tell how a Hawke's Bay travelling team will go until they start to play.
Adams is taking one risk, and it's calculated. He is planning to start Josh Harris on the bench and is hoping he doesn't need to get him on the field.
Harris is still feeling the effects of a groin strain and Adams reckons a week off would do him the world of good.
And the coach wants him as close to full fitness as possible for the season run-in.
It means that the United front three will probably be Josh Adams down the middle, Campbell Hall on the right and Malcolm Marfell on the left.
In midfield, skipper Kieran Venema is likely to be the holding player behind Dane Thompson — back from suspension — and Jarom Brouwer.
Kieran Higham was still feeling under the weather this week but is expected to be fit to take his place at sweeper, behind centreback Mal Scammell, rightback Steven Husband and leftback James Bristow. Seth Piper will be in goal.
United still hold the Challenge Trophy, which goes on the line at every home game of the holders. United have held it for well over a season.
“It means we are playing for something every home game,” Corey Adams said.
The spirit at training remained good.
“The players only want to get better,” Adams said.
“It makes my job easy.”
United's game starts at 2.30pm.
Thistle coach Blair said his starting line-up would stay much the same as it was for last weekend's game.
Ema Martos would have a positional change, going from the back line into a central defensive midfield role.
Rightback Emerson Araya would be back in the squad following his three-match suspension. Both he and centreback Ander Batarrita had niggling injuries that were expected to have healed enough for them to be available tomorrow.
Blair said Taradale were a good side who would be “very strong” at home.
“I expect them to have good structure and balance,” he said.
Changes in formation had added to Thistle's stability. In training this week the squad worked on the transition from attack to defence.
The plan was to stay with the adjusted formation, although it could be changed to suit the circumstances.
Blair said he had received no word on when suspended Sam Patterson would be available.
Patterson and Araya were sent off in a game against Port Hill at Childers Road Reserve on July 4. Patterson was suspended for seven weeks, but Thistle took issue with some aspects of his sending off.
As it turns out, Patterson is recovering from a knee injury, so when he does return, he will carry the benefit of several weeks' enforced rest.
