Internationals appear to be causing all the headaches for Launceston's two NPL Tasmania coaches.
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Lino Sciulli said Launceston City lost two imports last week while Olympic's Alex Gaetani is having to deal with hamstring injuries for American defender Michael Monticchio and English striker Chris Wademan combined with an untimely suspension for Argentine playmaker Luca Vigilante.
Sciulli said defender Pat Sullivan has returned to the US feeling homesick while English holding midfielder Shane Cartwright "does not want to play any more".
However, after back-to-back 4-0 results at home (in the positive against bottom-placed Clarence and negative to leaders Devonport), the wily man manager praised his reliable regulars and offered a tantalising hint about potential new faces at Prospect.
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"It was good to see a couple of people playing in different roles against Devonport and they did well," he said.
"We are looking to get others in and build on that for next year while keeping the nucleus of what we've already got."
Asked for any specifics, Sciulli said he was hoping to line up a versatile former Northern Rangers player who has been living in Brisbane and will slot nicely into Cartwright's midfield role.
City travel to Kingborough on Saturday who Sciulli admitted were "on fire at the moment" having won four of their last five games and being 2-0 up with a couple of minutes left in the other against Olympia before managing to lose 3-2.
After single-goal home losses to Launceston City and Kingborough, an improving Olympic side conceded two late goals to lose a thriller to Hobart Zebras before a penalty save from Jarrod Hill set up the confidence boost of holding Ken Morton's third-placed South Hobart to a draw.
They host struggling Clarence at Windsor Park on Saturday seeking a third win of the season but wary of a side whose only three points came against them in April.
Gaetani said Mitch Jones and Matt Spanos are set to play bigger roles along with a couple of Northern Championship regulars and possibly a new arrival.
"We've been beaten by them before so will have to be at our best," he said.
"It's going to be a different game to recent weeks in that we might have more of the ball and further up the park so we will need to move it quickly and take risks to break down what has been a pretty stubborn defence.
"How we approach it will be a sign of how far we have come."
Fresh from a successful women's football day earlier this month, Riverside is celebrating indigenous participation this week.
President Stuart McCarron said this included a talk from Aboriginal elder Uncle Murray before the women's and NPL sides wear new indigenous strips for their games along with a number of the junior sides competing in the NTJSA.
Round 20
Friday
8.15pm: Olympia v South Hobart, Warrior Park
Saturday
2.15pm: Kingborough v Launceston City, Lightwood Park
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