NORTH Launceston coach Zane Littlejohn has declared tomorrow's State League clash against Western Storm a cross-town ``grudge'' match after claiming that disparaging remarks have been made about Bombers captain Mitch Van Den Berg.
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``Our boys will be pretty fired up because there's been some words spoken about our captain in particular by one of the Storm players, which has fired our boys up internally,'' Littlejohn said.
``They understand that what has been said is disrespectful and one of the things we want to get back on the footy field is a bit of respect from every club and we feel the Storm is one of those clubs we still need to get that from.
``Absolutely it will be a grudge match - the last time we met we won and it was all about the Storm's short turnaround.
``You don't need ammunition to play a cross-town rival but we've got a bit of extra through one of their players bagging out our captain.''
The Bombers will have close to a full-strength side available regaining defender Andrew Cox-Goodyer, Jay Lockhart, Will McBride and Mariners Dakota Bannister, Bryton Mullins and Logan Reynolds.
Western Storm is coming off a confidence-boosting win over Clarence and will also field its best side boosted by the return of Mariners captain Tim Jones and with Braden McGee added to an extended interchange bench.
Launceston faces a difficult road trip South to play Glenorchy with plenty of injury concerns.
Chris Reissig will miss with a knee injury, Michael Musicka faced a test on an ankle problem, Nathan O'Donoghue is in doubt with an abdominal strain and Beau Green will miss with work.
Zac Oldenhof is in contention for promotion after good form in the development league along with Brayden Pitcher and Zane Rundle with Corey Sheppard and Joe Krushka also named to return.
Burnie lost Darren Banham to a groin strain but named ruckman Jason Laycock for its game against Hobart City despite leaving the ground last week with a suspected rib injury.
Nick McKenna and Rudy Barrett remained sidelined by suspension and injury respectively.