The club life member is etched into the annals of City’s history, but for the first time ever he is acutely aware of plotting their downfall. 

“There’s a lot of mixed emotions – I’ve left a lot of lifelong friends,” Sciulli said.

“At the end of the game, I’ll probably have a big sigh and know it’s all over.

“I’m glad we’re at NTCA (ground) to start with and not back home up Prospect.”

Sciulli had dragged City up to a respectable fifth place before the club decided to head in a different direction.

Forced to walk away from unfinished business at end of season, he insists any lasting acrimony with his old club of decades has dissipated. 

“I moved on the very next day,” Sciulli said. “I knew when I went for my interview process that others went for it as well and they might be better qualified than me.

“I guess at the end of the year, we can look back and see whether that was the correct thing or not.”

Ben Brookfield, the man who internally had replaced Sciulli, had not addressed the issue of players coming up against last year’s mentor.

“That’s not an issue,” Brookfield said. “I mean Lino is a really good bloke, he’s still a friend of mine and still friends with the players.

“We’ve got to take things professionally and make sure we’re there to do a job – and take the bragging rights.

Casting sentiment aside, both clubs are chasing first NPL wins in the Derby Cup.

“It will be a really big game – any derby encounter is anywhere in the world, and Launceston is no different,” Brookfield said. “You can’t take anything for granted … so, it’s really who is the best on the day, really.”