Roofing edged their derby clash with South Shields on Wednesday night, winning 1-0 at Filtrona Park in the Durham Challenge Cup.

It was their second Northern League Division One scalp this season, having caused an upset by knocking out Spennymoor in the last round.

But McLoughlin is guarding against what happened after the win over Moors, when his side crashed to a 4-1 defeat at Guisborough in their next game.

RCA head the Division Two table, with Roofing one of the sides chasing them, and McLoughlin said: "After we beat Spennymoor, we struggled on the Saturday, so I don't want a repeat performance.

"There wasn't a lot of chances in the Shields game, but I think we shaded it – but only just."

Roofing had a threadbare side out for that game as injuries start taking their toll, and McLoughlin admits he isn't sure what sort of team he will be able to field against RCA for a game he rates as more important than the Shields match.

Brian Rowe picked up an injury and is struggling to be fit, while Keith Foster and Michael Chapman are away, and Paul Catto may not be back from London in time for kick-off.

The latter three all operate at left-back, leaving Roofing vitally short in that area, while Kris Hughes and Stuart Dixon also look set to miss out.

Chris Hepple makes a return, but McLoughlin said: "A draw would do with the players we've got missing.

"But if we can take what we showed against Shields into the RCA game, we will do well."