The final round encounter between Launceston, who must win to lock in a double chance, and Glenorchy, who is a game and 10 per cent ahead in second, is expected to be a tight contest.

The Blues won by a solitary point the last time they faced off in Riverside, while the Pies’ ruled by 48 points on the return leg in round 14.

However, both coaches are reluctant to lay all their cards bare on finals eve.

Launceston boss Sam Lonergan said his side would be more prepared and up for the fight than the side that played last year’s preliminary final.

“Our boys chests’ will be out and they will have the belief we’re capable of winning the game,” he said.

“I had a really young group and finishing fifth last year meant that we had a tough finals campaign.

“The position we are in now is that we’ve injected depth and age into our playing group and we’ve got an opportunity to play some home finals. 

“So that group that performed really well last year [but] I believe we can go one step further.”

Lonergan said his side’s mid-season slump had hardened them to deal with adversity, and that Glenorchy was the perfect litmus test.

“Resilience is one of those things that sometimes lacks in the younger generation and you’ve got to have hard times to experience how to work your way through it,” he said.

“The Magpies are a talented side with players who can take hold of the game in a quarter and turn it on its head.

“They are certainly a side that likes to get back and help out defensively, which means our ball movement by foot is going to be crucial to keep them accountable.”

Glenorchy coach Paul Kennedy is expecting a heavy deck to make the match a hard grind - an area he said his players had worked hard on throughout the season.

”We’ve had some really good tests going in and this will be another one,” he said.

“You look at Launceston’s list and their ability to attack from defence is really good.

“They’ve got some really good honest in-and-under players around the footy, two good ruckmen and a dangerous forward line.

“A really good mix with the resting ruckman and (Mitch) Thorp and (Dylan) Riley who gives you a bit of both and then their smaller forwards – (Jack) Rushton with his speed can create some headaches and (Jake) Hinds when he is up there is pretty clever as well. It’s a tough challenge and a good one leading into next week.”

Kennedy will not have to worry about Riley this week as he has been rested along with Tom Sheppard and Jack Donnellan, with co-captain Chris Savage, Ethan Jackson and Casey Brown coming in.

Harry Parker has come into the Pies’ line-up for Aaron Brennan.

The match starts at 2pm, while CLARENCE takes on Tigers in the third match this weekend. NORTH HOBART has the bye.

Lauderdale coach Darren Winter has warned North Launceston not to take his side lightly this weekend, or they will be beaten.

The Northern Bombers have not had had a great deal of success at Lauderdale Oval in recent times, despite defeating last year’s grand finalist at “The Tip” last season.

Taylor Whitford’s charges have mauled Lauderdale at UTAS in the past two seasons with a handful of 90-plus point drubbings.

But Winter said the minor and reigning premiers do not have the mental advantage of his fifth-ranked playing group. “They’re coming off a bye, will be fresh and will want to have a good account for themselves before they have another bye next week,” Winter said.

“We were a lot better in the last one up there, [we lost by] four goals, we had a bad start and pegged that back.

“The players aren’t daunted by the challenge – they actually enjoy it.

“We’ve been playing some good footy over the last seven weeks, and against the top teams as well. We’ve had one hiccup which was a bit of a downer against Launnie, but apart from that our footy’s been pretty sharp.

“If they come down and take us lightly then we’ll get on top. Our team is good enough to beat them. No one in the competition is unbeatable, if they come down and they’re not on their game – we’ll have a crack at them.”

Lauderdale are unchanged, while skipper Brad Cox-Goodyer and Michael Tang are key ins for North.

North will host the second semi in week two of the finals series with a chance to earn a direct ticket into its fifth-consecutive grand final on September 15.

Whitford said his players understand how difficult it is to return home from Lauderdale with four points.

“You don’t have to change too much structurally down there, it’s more a mental adjustment,” he said.

“You have to understand that the changerooms are going to be a little different, it’s going to be windy and Lauderdale play the ground really well with a strong supporter base behind them. It can be a hostile environment.”

Whitford said Lauderdale are slightly different to the side they pumped in last year’s fiery decider in the way they like to transition the ball from defence into attack.

“They are a bit different to last year in the way the want to move the footy and they’ve got some real weapons forward of the ball.

“With Thor [Boscott] back in the line-up, we haven’t played him yet this season and Bryce Walsh returned last week.

“If they can get the ball forward of the centre they are pretty dangerous, so we have to be on defensively and  make the most of our opportunities.”