Having struggled to overcome North in recent years, the Southern Bombers spoiled Arion Richter-Salter's 50^th with a three-goal win in round five before beating Whitford's men at UTAS Stadium for just the second time in seven years.

Whitford said his players had tasted enough wins over their Southern rivals to remain unfazed by recent results.

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"It's got no bearing at all to be honest I don't think," he said.

"Yes they've beaten us a couple of times this year, but if you look at our record beyond that we've had the wood over them.

"They've beaten us two games out of 16 or 17 games we've played this year, so when you put it in that perspective I don't think it's got anything to do with how we go about this week."

Lauderdale named gun midfielders Bryce Walsh and Robbie McManus after both trained lightly on Tuesday, but will be without key defender Josh McGuinness (hamstring) until finals.

McGuinness' brother Matt and Oscar Shaw return from Devils duties, while North Launceston recalled two-time premiership player Rhyan Mansell for last week's late inclusion James Curran (SATIS football).

Whitford said his 19-year-old draft hope would inject more class into the Northern Bombers' line-up.

"He [Mansell] will be great, we're really looking forward to getting him back in," Whitford said.

"He's played a couple of games this year and played well.

"He returns in really good form and he's had a great attitude this year in the Devils program with his 19th year.

"He's played some really good footy - some footy the best that he's played - and we'll welcome him back with open arms, we're rapt to have him."

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Lauderdale enters the one-versus-two clash in sketchy form having lost to Launceston and then-bottom Clarence in the past three weeks.

Coach Darren Winter expected his side to "respond really well", but conceded there was a chance his team could drop its third game in a month should North bring their A-game.

"I still think they're probably up there - you come to this time of year and they've done it all before," Winter said.

"Once they get into finals regardless of what happens this weekend they'll be up and about, they know they can win finals and I suppose that experience of having multiple premierships under their belt will hold them in good stead to do it again."

Windy at the best of times, Lauderdale Oval is set to be hit by heavy rain on Saturday - replicating the conditions of the two sides' most recent clash in round 13.

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