NORTH Launceston will blood another baby Bomber against Devonport underlights on Saturday.
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Kaleb Thomas, who switched from NTFA division 1 club Prospect Hawks during the off-season, will debut following strong showings in the development league.
North coach Tom Couch said ruck-forward Bart McCulloch had recovered from a groin injury and would be included in the line up with Thomas and defender Jock White.
However, the undefeated Bombers will play without one of its four Tassie Mariners players for the first time this season.
Tarryn Thomas is injured, while Rhyan Mansell, Tyran Mansell and Thomas Donnelly all got a call up to tackle Gold Coast abroad on Saturday.
Couch said bottom-placed Devonport are good one-on-one and show great discipline. He said his players were starting to play well together as a team leading into the bye.
“Defence is the key for a successful side and Jay (Lockhart) has had a perfect start to the season… and we have been wrapped with Jay Foon, Arion Richter-Salter and Connor Young – who did a very good job on Rulla (Kelly-Mansell) a couple of weeks ago,” Couch said.
“We have had to start from scratch down back with (Stephen) Heppell, (Corey) Nankervis and both (Tom and Will) Loones going.”
Magpies coach Mitch Thorp said his players would be directed to stick to their structures and not play the ball into North’s hands.
“We need to make sure our structure around the ball is pretty tight so they don’t get out on the outside and put it down (Zach) Burt and McCulloch’s throat – (Tom) Bennett and (Brad) Cox-Goodyer – they are pretty dangerous up front,” he said.
Thorp said the experience of playing arguably the best team of the past five years would be a good learning experience for his charges.
The match starts at 6pm.
LAUNCESTON will welcomed back ruck-forward Nathan O’Donoghue from injury and Casey Brown for its encounter with the third-placed Clarence at Windsor Park on Sunday.
Matthew Spohn has been left out due to soreness coming out of the Blues’ away victory over Lauderdale last week.
“Nathan gives us that forward presence, which we know and the opposition knew we didn’t have a great deal of,” coach Sam Lonergan said.
“Jake Nunn started forward last week and gave us a crash-and-bash body that can bring the ball to ground.”
Lonergan said O’Donoghue’s inclusion would help the likes of in-form duo Sonny Whiting and Kelly-Mansell.
Winless Lauderdale host Hobart City on Saturday, while Burnie and reigning premiers Glenorchy clash at West Park on Sunday.