With their Silverdome home unavailable due to a dance competition, both Launceston's State League sides will be looking to waltz through their semi-finals.
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Minor premiers Arrows secured home advantage by finishing above perennial grand final opponents Northern Hawks but the semi-final venue choice is particularly hard on the third-placed Cavaliers.
Dan Roden's team also earned home-court advantage but must travel to Kingborough Sports Centre for an elimination final against a Kingston side that finished with less than half their points tally.
Both Launceston captains were philosophical about the situation and focused on securing future finals back home.
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The top two have been regular grand final adversaries in recent years with Arrows winning the 2015-17 deciders and Hawks exacting revenge last year.
"We had two grand final losses in a row against them and then third time lucky," recalled Hawks skipper Danni Pickett.
"I played in the last two and they were completely different ends of the emotional scale. When you lose a grand final you think about all the hard work and effort you've put in to get there. But last year to get the win having been nine goals down at one point, that really showed us we are never down and out.
"For a long time we did not beat them and they were the powerhouse of the competition. So when we broke that run it was a huge breakthrough for us and since then it's been a pretty big rivalry. We have won two out of three against them this season but always know it's a really tough game."
With a full squad to select from, Pickett said the Hawks were brimming with confidence.
"We probably did not think six weeks ago that we'd be finishing second. We'd have been happy with third but are really excited to give ourselves the double chance. But hopefully we have a really strong game this week and then have a week off."
Cavs captain Shelby Miller also reported a healthy, full squad and, having finished level on points with Arrows and Hawks, would not be using the venue as an excuse for losing.
"It is frustrating to have to play down there but at the end of the day we cannot do anything about that so no excuses, it is what it is.
"It's a little bit nerve-wracking playing on their home court but we're going in confident and just focusing on the way we play and fingers crossed.
"It was pretty awesome to have such a close competition this year. I've not seen it like that in my time in the State League but the whole group of teams have been really competitive against each other and we have had quite a few one-goal wins."
Finals roster
- 1pm 19U 3v4 Northern Hawks v Kingston
- 2.45pm Opens 3v4Cavaliers v Kingston
- 4.30pm 19U 1v2 Cavaliers v Cripps Waratah
- 6.15pm Opens 1v2 Arrows v Northern Hawks
All at Kingborough SC on Saturday
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