It took just one delivery for South Launceston firebrand James Beattie to announce his long-awaited return.
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That's all Beattie bowled to pick up the final wicket and end the Launceston innings.
Joining the Knights' lineup for the second week, the left-armer was little more than an observer for all but 22 balls batting of the 100 overs in last Saturday's clash.
But Beattie will turn out for his first Cricket North game proper for the cutthroat final against South's neighbours.
"Just having him back this week, we now have four pretty good fast bowlers," Knights captain Tom Waller said.
"So hopefully we can look to James to lead the attack."
Beattie has been absent for the entire regular season for South, only turning out for the Greater Northern Cup semi-final loss to Ulverstone.
But the 20-year-old has had a productive summer for Greater Northern Raiders, taking 25 scalps at 22.64 in his first full Cricket Tasmania Premier League season.
Waller says Beattie is a "big inclusion" that adds another dimension to a strong attack that is set to go head-to-head with a strong batting card.
"Being a left-armer, he's probably just that little bit quicker than most of the Cricket North bowlers just at the moment," Waller said.
"He's certainly been a big part of us the last two years when we won premierships.
"So we're looking forward to him playing his role within the team, but he is a big inclusion for us, that's for sure."
Waller admitted South has been complacement for several weeks when the Knights, Launceston and Westbury all but sealed their finals spots.
But during this week discussions have focussed on not repeating the mistakes of the side's heavy 196-run loss to Launceston again.
The group found out they bowled 14 maidens in the first week compared double the number from the Lions.
"We probably have to be more consistent with our lines and length," Waller said, "so we can put more pressure back on them and we're not giving away boundary balls."
Launceston quickly forgot about the victory over South, instead left celebrating its third win inside 48 hours.
The back-to-back statewide T20 finals wins secured a first Lions title in 10 years.
"We can take that momentum into this weekend," captain-coach Alistair Taylor said. "Obviously, it's a completely different format, but most players will be there again. They're coming off a high, but you've gotta make sure you keep level-headed.
"We don't want to get too carried away just because we've been playing good cricket. Cricket's a funny game and it changes quickly.
"But I'm sure all the boys can take some confidence."
Launceston has not lost in its last seven appearances dating back to December 8.
That's got the Lions stirring towards a shot at the Cricket North title for the first time since 2011-12.
"It drives a lot of the boys - a lot of us have been here for the hard years," Taylor said.
"There has been six or seven years when there has been a core group that has through the struggles when we were bottom of the ladder. It drives them and the young blokes are driven because they feed off of us."
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