It appeared like any other badminton match played on familiar home courts.

But it wasn't. Far from it.

Josh Partridge stripped out of his modest umpiring attire as part of his duties this week and, within moments, kitted from head to toe in a distinct Tasmanian playing outfit.

Annalea Reid had to wait solemnly by for her playing partner just as another face among the throngs of family, friends and rivals looking on inside Elphin Sports Centre.

The Launceston pair soon after walked out set to play, safe in the knowledge that they finally made it to the Australian championships to face a couple of Olympians in waiting if nothing else.

"Our first senior nationals was unreal," Partridge said.

"The standard was just so good against two of the best up-and-coming players that Australia has got."

Queensland siblings Jack and Angela Yu have already represented Australia juniors multiple times before.

It told amid their 21-10 21-10 winning scoreline.

As much as the likeable crowd favourites tried, it all seemed to be in vain.

"It is a completely different type of standard for us and they're just so fluid with the way they do things out on the court," Partridge said.

"There were times when we felt in the contest, played some really good badminton ourselves, but there was also times when we were pretty rusty as well.

ELSEWHERE IN SPORT

"Obviously with Annalea being based down in Hobart, we haven't played that much together recently.

"We felt that at times."

That was the other thing that didn't help their chances.

One pair shared bedrooms as kids while the other is now some 200 kilometres apart.

Partridge, 20, and Reid, 24, last combined fleetingly in the state championships more than six months ago.

It makes communication on court hard to fine tune.

"We do talk about it a fair bit, but obviously its not the ideal way to prepare for it," Partridge said.

"But we do talk about what happens if such and such happens."

Reid had been picked to represent Tasmania in the Ede Clendinnen Shield interstate series for the first time.

Even those first three days of competition felt a somewhat new shuttlecock game to the mixed doubles when focus for Tasmania was only on the women's doubles.

The St Patrick's College graduate, who relocated to Hobart for study and works as a teacher, only took up the sport two and a half years ago in an amazing transition.

"It was a very different type of game that they play. It was also a good opportunity to be able to play against players like that so you can just learn really quickly," Reid said.

"You can train as much as you like, but unless you put it into action, it's so different."

Subscriptions are available here.

Sign up to our Sport email here.