After sitting comfortably at 6-2 nine rounds in, the Blues have lost their past two matches to Lauderdale and Clarence with injuries and an unsettled line-up shaking the Sam Lonergan-steered ship.

However, the coach hopes several days away from the football club, a boxing session and some tenpin bowling has rejuvenated his third-ranked playing group for a State League title tilt.

“Leading into the bye we had a seven-week block of games with a couple of Hobart trips and the break has helped the boys out mentally in order to get ready for the back half of the year,” Lonergan said.

“We’ve had some good individual performances in the past couple of weeks but we haven’t had that connection between all three lines. That’s the issue at the moment and we will just get back to basics and concentrate on what we need to do.”

Launceston heads to Kingston’s Twin Ovals on Saturday to challenge perennial strugglers Tigers – a side the Blues mauled 17.11 (113) to 3.4 (22) at Windsor Park in round 6 thanks largely to a Mitch Thorp eight-goal haul.

However, the Tigers’ four-goal loss to Lauderdale last week has left Lonergan wary.

“When things are on their terms they play really well and are an enthusiastic side,” he said.

“After a significant pre-season personnel change, I think they’ve got the experience on the park but it is difficult to pull it all together.”

Lonergan’s only outing this season was against Tigers and he returns after recovering from a serious ankle injury.

Utility Jake Nunn, who damaged his shoulder in round 1, has also been included in this week’s best 22 along with Jared Dakin and club debutants Blair Rubock and Tom Mundy as cover for Sonny Whiting, Sam Rundle, Jimmy Aganas, Tom Sheppard and Ben Killalea.

Tigers coach Trent Baumeler has also lost key charges such as Marcus Davies (suspension) and midfielder Ryan Matthews for the season.

Ruckman Heath Thompson is also unavailable due to a university exam an hour before game time.

Baumeler said his side had been solid defensively all season and had turned a comer in attack over the past month, but lapses throughout matches continue to be problematic.

“No one really ever plays the full four quarters, there are going to be periods where teams get the game on their terms … and we seem to get hurt on the scoreboard when they do,” he said.

“We see every game as a winnable game, I’m not going to stand up there in front of the boys and tell them we’re going to limit damage or we’re going to put numbers behind the ball.

“They [Launceston] come off a couple of losses so that makes them hungry and it does make them dangerous in that regard because I’m sure they don’t want to lose three in a row.”

Baumeler said his players had to pressure the Blues coming out of defence to ensure supply to their “dangerous forwards” is restricted.