Coach Ben Brookfield said the belief that has returned is timely, as City moves into sixth from bottom place in the space of two weeks. 

“Basically the camp’s buzzing with confidence,” he said. “So hopefully we can take that again onto the pitch and sort of help put points on the board, try and get as many points as we can now to secure the top six (spot).”

City will host Clarence United finally on Saturday after two previous trips to Hobart, including a stirring 5-0 win at their last meeting.

Brookfield was assured his side won’t enter the crucial clash overconfident.

“We played really well that day,” he said.

“If we do turn up again, we still can’t underestimate them because they’ve turned a bit of a corner themselves.

“We’ve just got to go in there and made sure the real City turn up.”

City could well move up to 15 points, six ahead of the second-year NPL club, and all but eliminating one of their two rivals for a League Cup spot after just defeating combatant Kingborough 3-1.

The turnaround has also coincided with Brookfield’s inclusion in the side that has proven to be a masterstroke.

The semi-retired player felt a need to take a place on the pitch to affect change rather than on the sidelines.

“Sometimes there are players in our team that do need reminding of where their men are,” he said.

“They get tired, their concentration goes, whereas if I am next to them, I can constantly be talking, so it keeps them on the track.”

Northern Rangers coach Lino Sciulli feels his side has prepared ideally for its away clash to Devonport City at Valley Road on Saturday.

The Strikers have slumped in recent weeks, now falling 10 points behind near-premiership certainties South Hobart after the reigning premiers led the league just four weeks back.

“It’s going to be a big challenge for us still,” Sciulli said.

“Hopefully the boys will be on the mend.

“We had a really good session (on Wednesday), so hopefully it’s good for us. 

“Sometimes training is very ordinary, but the other night just felt good.”

Rangers pushed South Hobart to an enthralling 3-2 result that has now enthused Sciulli for a strong finish.

“We had South Hobart last week, we’ve got Devonport this week and Olympia next, so these three weeks are very challenging for us,” he said.

“Fortunately, we were on our game against South last week, we played really well and we pressed them all day.

“If  we don’t do the same against Devonport and Olympia, we could be on the wrong end of a hiding.

“But I’m hopeful we’ll do everything right; we’ve got a good show.”