LAUNCESTON and the Northern Bombers will clash in a cross-town rivalry match in round 8 of the State League at Windsor Park on Saturday.
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North Launceston will start hot favourite after its great start to the season sees it sitting third on the ladder with a 5-2 win-loss record.
The Bombers are coming off a confidence-boosting 88-point victory over Lauderdale on Saturday and a victory over the Blues will help consolidate third spot.
Taylor Whitford and Allan O'Sign both finished the game on the bench with ice packs on hamstrings.
"[O'Sign] was just a caution coming back from a hammy," North coach Zane Littlejohn said.
"Cub [Whitford] has just been a bit tight in both hammys and cramping up so we will monitor his week and what he does, but he's fine.
"Windsor Park has been a bit of a burden for us for a long time but we will have to come with the right mindset against Launceston.
"They will be ready for us and we want to definitely keep the ball rolling."
The Blues went down to Burnie by 47 points but coach Scott Stephens will be hoping a return to their home ground can help his young side lift against the Bombers.
"I was a lot happier with the effort against Burnie and it was definitely there for the four quarters but we are still showing signs of micro lapses which are still costing us goals," Stephens said.
"At the end of the day that was the difference and there are just a few defensive aspects of the game we need to work on."
The Blues emerged injury- free with Brennan Savage successfully getting through his first game back from injury.
Stephens said North Launceston would be a tough challenge.
"We're on the opposite sides of the ledger this year as the underdogs and we're hunting the top side in the North so to speak so we'll look forward to the challenge."
WESTERN Storm travels to play Devonport and coach Mitch Hills will be wary of the Magpies but keen for his side to notch up a fourth-straight win and hold on to second spot on the ladder.
The Storm emerged injury- free from the Glenorchy game.