Prospect Knights v Northern Rangers at Prospect Park

Ulverstone v Riverside Olympic at Ulverstone Showgrounds

Devonport City v Burnie United at Valley Road (4.30pm)

Bye: Somerset

LADDER leaders Northern Rangers face defending champions Prospect Knights while second-placed Ulverstone host Riverside Olympic in two games likely to impact the title race.

Rangers, one point clear with a game in hand, are firming as a favourite to win its third title in four years.

Scott Murray will make his first senior start for Rangers after returning from training in the UK with Northampton Football Club and will push Simon Petrusma to the bench.

Northern Rangers coach Peter McBeath said he would approach the game with caution, knowing Knights will be desperate for the win.

``We will have to dig deep and put in a solid performance to come away with three points.'' he said.

``A lot of the things we do are about quick feet and moving the ball quickly ... a lot of our training drills are designed to do that so it doesn't worry is about playing on a smaller ground.''

Prospect was beaten 3-0 last week in a lacklustre performance against neighbours Launceston City and will need to improve its intensity against a side it has struggled against for several seasons.

Coach Anton Balym said a reshuffle sees Matthew Heald come into midfield and Chris Pickering making way.

``It's going to be a huge challenge for us considering how we've played over the last month but hopefully we will step up to the plate and people will see what Knights is made of,'' he said.

Ulverstone hosts Riverside Olympic in a rematch of its 1-1 on April 14.

Coach Nick Owen said co-captain Ben Foote is in Melbourne getting tests done on a growth in his shin and will be replaced by Adam Conkie.

``We wish (Ben) the best and his leadership will be sorely missed. Adam is a handy replacement, however.

``Riverside is a massive danger game for us. The past few years have seen draws or a goal either way so it will be important that we are at our best. The lads were sharp at training during the week and we will look to work harder at breaking down their defence, something that we did a pretty ordinary job of last time we played them.''

Olympic has been hit hard by illness with several players out with influenza including Matt Chapman and Matthew Youd.

Coach Troy Scott said he was waiting on the fitness of two other sick players but Joe Evans and Nick Lanau-Atkinson would be definite starters.

``That was a game of two halves, they were easily the better side in the first half but we were better in the second and their keeper made some fantastic saves,'' Scott said.

Launceston City and Launceston United were both buoyed by their second win of the year last week and the winning side will move into double points territory.

City coach Lino Sciulli said United would also be up and about after last week's win and his side would have to maintain its intensity.

``At this time of the year it's a matter of giving teams in the top four a shake or battling to stay off the bottom and we'd rather be giving them a shake,'' he said.

Striker David Jordan is suspended through accumulation of yellow cards and will be replaced by Josh Duncan while Brady Kossman is out with a groin injury and will be replaced by Kemouh Tamba.

Launceston United still has several players out including Andrew Clarke and Marcus Taylor but goalkeeper Shannon Rumbel is available and will replace Pat Farrell who is involved in a college musical.

Coach Mark Egan said he was looking forward to the game, which he predicted to be as tight as the 1-1 draw in round two.

Third-placed Devonport City host bottom-placed Burnie United in a twilight kick-off to be delayed until the arrival of a Football Federation Tasmania videographer travelling to Valley Road after filming at Ulverstone.

Devonport coach Chris McKenna said he and Grant Ashdown would make way for Kieran Mulraney and Kamil Douglas but teenager Michael Holden would keep his starting spot after kicking the winning goal on debut last week.

McKenna said he was surprised Burnie had not picked up any points so far this season.

``With what we saw of them in round two, they have some good young kids and Tony has got them on the right path but they're probably just a little inexperienced,'' he said. ``But we know what that when Burnie comes to Valley Road, they come to play.''

Burnie coach Tony Cocker looks like like he will have 5-6 under-18s backing for senior starts.

``These kids coming up are quite capable but it's just getting tougher having them play two games but we've got nothing else to lose and we might as well reward the players that have been turning up to training since November,'' he said.

Centre back Ron Smith is out of the side through injury while Malcolm Walters is suspended for three weeks for attempting to strike an opponent last week, however, the club has indicated it will appeal against the red card.