LAUNCESTON will be chasing its first home ground victory of the State League season as it attempts to back up from last week's three-point win over the Western Storm against Devonport at Windsor Park today.
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Coach Scott Stephens is preaching a message of consistency of effort to his young players but the Blues' growing injury list will test their depth and threatens to derail their plans.
"Good sides back up week in and week out and we need to win games against teams fighting for the same positions as us," he said.
"Devonport will be fired up to come out and prove what they can do and they have had a couple of injury woes themselves.
"We had a practice match against them about a month ago so we pretty much know what each other is like and it is set up for a pretty good match.
"We're looking forward to getting our first home win of the season."
Devonport coach Mitch Thorp was impressed by what he saw of the Blues last week against the Storm and knows the Magpies are in for a good contest.
"They certainly showed plenty of character and a real belief in what Scott Stephens is trying to do and I thought it was one of the better efforts I've seen at TSL level so no doubt it is going to be a tough game," he said.
"We have to be very switched-on otherwise we could get made to look silly."
Thorp said the Magpies would take some time to click as a group with new faces in the squad and new systems of play.
"We will get better as games go on and we are looking forward to taking on a strong side that is well-drilled and well-coached."