NORTH Launceston continues its quest for State League respect as it tries to extend its best start to a TSL season against Devonport at Aurora Stadium today.
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The Northern Bombers have the chance to move to 4-1 record with a win over the Coastal Magpies but coach Zane Littlejohn was not getting carried away and was wary of any lapse.
``It's obviously a position that the footy club hasn't been in since 2010 when we last played finals,'' he said.
``It's good to be in that situation but we understand there is still a lot of work to do to consolidate it.
``The coaching team hope there won't be any let down and we have spoken about that this week.
``If we want to build a bit of respect back within the competition which is what we've always been trying to do - we've got to make sure we perform well in these type of games.
``We don't think by any means that Devonport is a weaker opposition. They've had some good results themselves and are a bit of an unknown at the moment as to what they can put up - and if they come on a good day they are going to be a very tough opposition.''
North is coming off a victory over cross-town rival Western Storm last week and Littlejohn said he was pleased with the way his side responded when challenged by the Storm last week.
``We watched the third quarter and especially the last five minutes of that quarter when the game was in the balance and our response to that.
``It was actually what we learnt that we didn't do the week before against Clarence and the boys executed that really well and our plans and how we need to play that situation.''
A former coastal boy, Littlejohn said he knew Devonport coach Max Brown well and looked forward to the challenge of outcoaching him.
``He will have his troopers right up and rearing to go after losing last week in Flannery's 200th.
``It is always nice to try to get one over them but he is a good coach in the way he motivates his group really well and a lot of the players play for him so it will be a tough challenge.''
Brown was disappointed by his side's loss to Hobart City last week describing it as ``lacklustre and one that got away''.
``This week we are playing one of the form sides of the competition and we know how well they run and spread and how good they are with their ball usage so it is going to be a difficult task that we are looking forward to,'' he said.
Brown said their intensity had been down and their disposal terrible last week and looked for his players to redeem themselves this week.
North Launceston captain Mitchell Van Den Berg plays his 50th senior game for the club.