Launceston City and Northern Rangers will be after local bragging rights when they meet at Mitsubishi Park, and neither side is expecting an easy outing.

``We know we've got a game on our hands because they've recruited well under a new coach,'' said Mitchell Dent, who will begin his campaign against one of his former teams.

``It should be a good way to start, and we're pretty positive about what we can achieve this season.''

Rangers will be looking to their English strikeforce of Shane Brassington and Adam Edwards for goals as they seek to improve on last season's fifth place, while City have also turned to experience in new coach Kurt Reynolds and former A-League star Danny Allsopp, who will again make a one-off appearance.

``Kurt is installing a new philosophy on the team and there's a lot of optimism about  what we can achieve this season,'' said Luke Kolodjashnij, who is returning to Launceston from Western Australia this season.

``South Hobart are always the  team to beat, and Zebras and Olympia have got some good results in the summer cup, while Northern Rangers are always a hard side to play, but we're looking forward to that first game.''

The cousin of Kade and Jake Kolodjashnij said the AFL draftees were also talented soccer players before ultimately heading to Gold Coast and Geelong respectively.

``They started with the round ball and were pretty good. They played with Northern rep sides before  getting into football.''

SOCCER FACTS

WHAT: V-League Round 1.

WHO: Launceston City v Northern Rangers. 

WHERE: Mitsubishi Park.

WHEN: 6pm, Saturday