The Bombers sit in third spot on the ladder and need to win to ensure they play finals this year.

But they won't be taking the Magpies lightly after their round 10 defeat at Devonport Oval.

"It's a game we dropped down there earlier in the year so obviously it's a bit of redemption for the boys and they are keen to make sure we don't slip up," North Launceston coach Zane Littlejohn said.

"We didn't respect them enough last time and our defensive actions were very bad and we just wanted to do the easy thing and work one way and not do the hard things we had done really well for most of the year.

"We were disappointed that day and have spoken about that already and the best thing about that is that we know we can control it."

Littlejohn said his side had improved since then and was coming off a confidence-boosting win over a quality opposition in Glenorchy.

"We're always improving and our best footy is still ahead of us and I think we've learnt from that which is pleasing," he said.

" We have to make sure our pressure and defensive actions are really high which they weren't the last time we played them.

"Our ability to win the ball inside the contests must be of a high standard and that's something we lifted last week and the boys that do that for us, our extractors, have been in really good form at the moment which is really important.

"And we have to make sure we have our 22 contributors - if we do that we will be competitive and win the game."

Littlejohn said they would be wary of an in-form Kade Pitchford and Adam Flannery who had played well and hurt them the last time they met.

He said they had not spoken about finals much and were focused on this week's game.

"This week is the biggest game we've had so far and if we win this week we can't miss out so it's an important game."

North loses Dakota Bannister for two weeks to suspension but has the valuable addition of marquee recruit Chris Tarrant for the final two roster games.