Both Northern coaches have expressed their frustration at an enforced weekend off from statewide action.
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Fixture complications arising from Monday's Lakoseljac Cup final between South Hobart and Devonport have thrown the NPL Tasmania roster into turmoil and left both Launceston teams with an unexpected free weekend.
City were due to play South Hobart last Sunday but instead were handed a rearranged fixture at Glenorchy which they won 1-0.
Olympic were due to play at Devonport on Saturday but that fixture has been postponed and will probably be played on a Wednesday night, possibly July 10.
Olympic coach Alex Gaetani admitted the scenario was far from ideal while City coach Lino Sciulli said it was particularly frustrating so soon after his side went four weeks without a game due to cup weekends plus a bye.
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"It is what it is but the upshot is both us and Riverside have the weekend off," Sciulli said.
"We've only had two games in six weeks and weren't happy with the changes last weekend but came out of it in a good way.
"We'd rather play because we're in quite good form. I was very happy with the Glenorchy game and in the second half against Olympic, although in the first half we looked like we had not played for four weeks."
The changes mean that there are only two NPL matches this weekend and both Launceston teams will have to wait until Saturday week for their next matches, with Olympic travelling to second-placed Olympia at 2.15pm before City host fourth-placed Zebras at 4pm.
Both coaches said the silver lining to the fixture cloud was the opportunity to rest players and allow injury niggles time to heal.
They also plan to make full use of their clubs' Northern Championship fixtures.
"Jarrod Linger has only played once in five weeks because he was away at an Australian futsal training camp so he will play Championship this weekend while other players, like Charlie Dyer, need a rest so it won't hurt them," Sciulli said.
City have a derby at Launceston United in the Championship on Saturday while Olympic are expected to slot returning English striker Chris Wademan into their team for the second-versus-third match of the round at Devonport.
We'd rather play because we're in quite good form
- City coach Lino Sciulli
8pm Friday: Hobart Zebras v Kingborough, KGV
4.30pm Saturday: Clarence v South Hobart, Wentworth Park
Ladder
- Team P W D L F A D P
- D'port 12 10 1 1 37 9 28 31
- Oly' 13 9 2 2 42 13 29 29
- South 11 7 2 2 42 15 27 23
- Zebras 12 5 5 2 42 18 24 20
- Glen'y 11 5 2 4 34 21 13 17
- K'boro 13 4 1 8 21 31 -10 13
- City 11 3 3 5 21 20 1 12
- R'side 12 2 0 10 10 38 -28 6
- Clar' 13 1 0 12 3 87 -84 3
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