MICHAEL WILDE insists that “only time will tell” if Connah’s Quay Nomads can end The New Saints’ top-flight dominance this season.

But the experienced striker believes Nomads have their best chance of toppling his former side since he’s been at the Deeside Stadium, which plays host to Llandudno tomorrow afternoon.

Saints have won the league for the last seven seasons - and eight in nine - but have found life much more difficult this term, Scott Ruscoe’s men dropping 16 out of a possible 45 points.

That has left Saints in second place in the table, a point behind leaders Connah’s Quay, with Barry Town only below Ruscoe’s men on goal difference and Bala Town and Aberystwyth Town within striking distance.

Asked whether Nomads can fend off Saints over the remaining 17 games of the season, Wilde said: “If it’s going to one season in particular, out of the last three I’ve been here, it’s going to be this one.

“That maybe gives us a good indication of where we are and it maybe gives a good indication of where TNS are as well.

“If we are going to exploit any weaknesses it’s possibly this year, where there are maybe some frailties amongst their squad.

They’ve dropped more points this season than they have in the previous three, so if we can keep doing what we are capable of doing, hopefully the rest will take care of itself.

“Then we will see what happens come January, over the split, and then February and March, when the big games - the ‘six-pointers’ - come thick and fast.”

There has been plenty of talk about Saints’ demise, but Wilde believes that it would be foolish to write off the Park Hall outfit, despite a less than convincing start to the season.

On what might have caused Saints’ problems this term, Wilde said: “I don’t know if the new lads that have come in just have to buy into the TNS philosophy and the way of doing things day in, day out.

“I am not the right one to answer whether they’ve got that balance.

“Ultimately they will be judged on where they finish at the end of the season.”

Wilde and full-back Danny Holmes are suspended for the clash with Llandudno, who are looking to make amends for their 4-0 home thrashing at the hands of Nomads back in September.

A goal from Wilde was followed up by a hat-trick from Callum Morris, right, as Nomads ran riot.

Former Holywell man Steve Thomas, who is now a mainstay of the Llandudno side, along with ex-Nomads duo Mike Pearson and Kai Edwards, said: “We are under no illusion how big a task we’re facing against Connah’s Quay. We were awful against them at home and were deservedly beaten. They are an excellent team with massive depth in their squad are well organised.

“That has to be our motivation because we’ve let ourselves down too many times this season and if we didn’t believe we could go and get a result there would be no points in us turning up, so of course we think we can go there and cause an upset.

“We know it’s a massive ask but we have to go there, be brave and give everything we’ve got. “