Vale defender Carl Dickinson is expecting a tough test when Vale host Midlands rivals Wolves on Saturday (3pm).

Vale go into the match with four points from the first four games while Saturday’s opposition Wolves sit in third place with 10 points.

Dickinson is targeting redemption after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Oldham Athletic and believes the atmosphere can give Vale an extra lift.

He told Valiant Player: “Hopefully we have a lot of fans here on Saturday and the place is bouncing and setting up a good atmosphere for us to go on and put in a performance.

“We know any team this season is going to be difficult, it’s a new league for everyone and we know Saturday’s going to be a tough test but one we are really looking forward to.

“It is going to be a tough game if I am honest, they’ve started off quite well, and they’ve got 10 points out of 12.”

Back-to-back relegations has seen Wolves fall from the Premier League to the SkyBet League 1, Dickinson is wary of the quality they have at their disposal in the forward areas.

“They’ve still got some really good players who’ve played in the Premier League and they are on big money.

“I think they’re still spending quite a bit of money to get new players; they’ve just bought (Kevin) McDonald from Sheffield United who is a good player.”

Vale are yet to keep a clean-sheet this season but Dickinson is confident they will come, starting on Saturday.

“Last week we conceded sloppy goals and we need to put that right, there’s no better place to do it than against one of the top teams on Saturday.

“It is something that we need to work on (clean-sheets) especially away from home.

“Away from home you’re not expected to go out and get results but if we keep clean-sheets then I think we’ve always got a chance of nicking a goal at the other end.”

Vale have trained every day this week and defender Dickinson who joined this summer from Watford is hopefully the full week’s training will pay dividends on Saturday. 

“We’ve had a really good week training and I am sure come Saturday we will be ready and raring to go.

I am really enjoying where I am playing, centre-half, learning every game, playing against different types of strikers,” he said

He added: “I just want to keep improving and get better and better.”