The Blues took the good with the bad at the match review panel this week, with Thorp accepting one week for a high forearm on Bryce Walsh, Casey Brown successfully challenging a hit on Ryan Wiggins, and Ethan Conway's tunnelling referral thrown out.

Thorp has enjoyed an impressive start to the 2019 with 19 majors in seven games - two behind the Mapgies' league leader Aiden Grace - and has been the focal point in the Blues' forward line.

Blackberry said key tall Alec Wright would play a more significant role in Thorp's absence, but also suggested the likes of Grant Holt, James Gillow and Brendan Taylor could thrive in a mosquito fleet forward line.

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"We won't be as tall obviously, but I think that could be a bit of a danger thing for us as far as we get right up the ground and push back with a few smaller and quicker and agile blokes," Blackberry said.

"We'll look different - [Glenorchy] have got some really good defenders so we'll have to apply a lot of pressure, but we think with the right delivery coming forward it doesn't really matter what forward line we've got.

"[Alec's] obviously going to be the main forward target for us, but in saying that we've got some really good smalls that can really play so it doesn't really worry us too much."

Having spent the first seven weeks of the season fulfilling his assistant coach role from the sidelines, Blackberry made a successful return in last week's tight loss to Lauderdale.

The classy midfielder laid six tackles and collected 15 touches playing predominantly off a wing, and chimed in with two important goals in the first and last quarters.

The 27-year-old saw the irony that one week after he had returned to an on-field role, his head coach would be forced to go the opposite way.

"I think he said it's the first time he's been suspended so it's not ideal, but that's football," Blackberry said.

"We're lucky enough to have Casey now, so that's a positive - we'll adapt and we'll look a bit different going forward so that's a nice challenge.

"[Mitch] hasn't played as a bench coach since I've been with him I don't think - even back in the South days so we'll see how that goes.

"He'll get a good view of the game and where we're at and how we're tracking."

Glenorchy ran out 29-point victors when the two sides met in round one, when the Blues were without Blackberry, Wright and Tim Bristow.

Blackberry pointed to last week's result with Lauderdale as evidence of the Blues's progression in just seven rounds, and said his side held "no fear" about travelling to meet the second-placed Pies.

"We're trying to teach these guys that are six games into their TSL careers how to be playing as 50-gamers, 100-gamers because that's where we kind of need them," Blackberry said.

"But they're getting better and better each week and we're seeing that."

Tasmania Devil Joseph Chaplin will make his Blues senior debut in Thorp's place, having been handed his senior State League debut for Devonport in 2017 by the same coach.

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