A telling home ground record should see North Launceston go into Saturday's grand final rematch with Lauderdale as odds-on favourite.
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The Southern Bombers have beaten North at UTAS just once since 2012, holding off the home side for a one-point win in round 10, 2017.
Playing for top spot, North recalled James Curran, Cody Lowe, Tom Donnelly, Jordan Tepper and Karlton Wadley at the selection table as it looks to stretch its winning run into another season.
"It's probably well-known that we've played really well at home which is something we probably haven't done in the past looking prior to 2013," North coach Taylor Whitford said.
"Our record wasn't that good, so to turn that around and have quite a good record against Lauderdale at home is obviously pleasing but that's in the bigger scheme of things.
"It's a pretty big game against a top-placed side and they're in really good form so we're going to have to play pretty well to compete with these guys."
Skipper Bryce Walsh's return from the US will be a huge boost to Lauderdale's hopes of going 2-0 over the flagholders this season.
Darren Winter wasn't reading too much into North's home record, saying the statistic said more about North Launceston than it did about UTAS Stadium.
"I don't think we dread [travelling there] - I just think they play it really well," Winter said.
"North Launceston are a good team so you go up there and it's a tough day - it's not because of the ground it's because they're a bloody good team.
"The ground is probably a bit too big for a perfect football oval - Bellerive [is] perfect - but I think it's more the fact that they're actually a good team, that's why it's hard to win up there.
"They've had the wood on us for a while and we'd like to go up there and have a crack at them, which we haven't done for a while too well up there."
Winter said he was expecting North to bounce back after Lauderdale took a 16-point win when the two sides met in round five.
"They're not used to having a loss and I think they came out pretty strong after it so I'd imagine they'll be a little bit more focused," Winter said.
"We got them when they had some new players into their team and probably weren't at their best ...I think over the last six or seven weeks they've flogged every team they've come up against."
The Northern Bombers have had 34 players run out with the senior team this season, and could still add to that number this weekend with Ryan Whitney and Xavier Todman among the emergencies.
Whitford rued the succession of injuries which have hampered his side playing its best 22 for much of the season, but was grateful for the opportunity to blood fresh talent.
"[The injury list] isn't looking great but that's ok - we've lost Lachy Young from the weekend, he's badly damaged some ligaments in his ankle so he's going to miss some time," Whitford said.
"We're probably going to have to play some guys from our development league that have been playing good footy - it gives a good chance for those guys to prove their worth.
"That's been something we haven't been scared to do if a younger person or anyone in fact on our list is playing good footy as development league, they get their opportunity.
"Hopefully we have 40 by the end of the year - that'd be great for our footy club.
"I know the last couple of years we haven't been scared to do it and I'm not scared to provide opportunities going forward for guys because it develops the football club going forward."
RECENT HISTORY
- 2018:Grand final at UTAS: North 7.21 (63) defeated Lauderdale 4.9 (33)
- Round 21 at Lauderdale: North 17.12 (114) defeated Lauderdale 11.13 (79)
- Round 14 at UTAS: North 12.16 (88) defeated Lauderdale 9.8 (62)
- Round 7 at UTAS: North 19.19 (133) defeated Lauderdale 5.9 (39)
- 2017: Grand final at UTAS Stadium: North 21.22 (148) defeated Lauderdale 9.7 (61)
- Second semi-final at UTAS: North 18.21 (129) defeated Lauderdale 4.11 (35)
- Round 10 at UTAS: Lauderdale 18.3 (111) defeated North 17.8 (110)
- Round 1 at Lauderdale: North 16.16 (112) defeated Lauderdale 7.9 (51)
- 2016: Round 11 at UTAS: North 16.7 (103) defeated Lauderdale 9.5 (59)
- Round 4 at Lauderdale: Lauderdale 14.14 (98) defeated North 5.13 (43)
- 2015: First semi-final at UTAS: North 9.19 (73) defeated Lauderdale 10.10 (70)
- Round 3 at Lauderdale: Lauderdale 7.14 (56) defeated North 7.13 (55)
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