Arriving in pre-season from Latrobe and Ulverstone respectively, Braden van Buuren and Liam Davies have played every game in 2019 and were among the best in last weekend's win over Glenorchy.

Whitford said the latter had been among the Bombers' biggest bolters this year.

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"Braden van Buuren played TSL footy before so we knew what we were going to get from him, but Liam's probably more of a surprise packet," Whitford said.

"We know he played some really good footy down in Ulverstone and he's highly rated on the coast, but we probably didn't know whether he'd apply that to TSL footy.

"He's taken to it like a duck to water and he's been fantastic on the wing - he runs really well and he's a really good disposer.

"If he's got time and space he's a really hard one to beat, so we've been really impressed with Liam."

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The return of key forwards Bart McCulloch and Ben Elmer headlined three changes for the Bombers, with Oliver Sanders returning from Devils duties and Fletcher Bennett missing his first game of 2019.

Utility Tom Donnelly will slot back into his usual role in defence.

"Tom missed five or six weeks with an ankle injury and usually plays wing or defence, but with Bart not playing last week we had to throw a few things around with Cody Lowe and Tom forward," Whitford said.

"It was one of those ones where we tried it and it worked - will we do it every week? Probably not but it worked really well on the weekend.

"We know what we get from Tom, he gives a really good contest and his effort's always high."

Kingborough are yet to get the better of North Launceston since joining the TSL in 2014, with a 16-point defeat in 2017 the Tigers' best of 11 attempts.

Coach Trent Baumeler said Saturday's game was about winning back respect from the two-time reigning premiers after a dismal three-goal showing in round eight.

"We lost by 113 points to them last game so they've got no reason to come in and respect us - we've got to earn respect through our actions," Baumeler said.

"It's going to be a grind and a contested game which I think we like."

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