Cavaliers and Northern Hawks share the same city, sometimes the same players, and on the opening weekend the same pair of opponents.
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But that's where it stops.
The rivals on the court are often friends off the court in Launceston, but the reigning premier has no real plans to pass off tips and, vice versa, receive any back in between games against Kingston and AYC-Friends Arrows.
A quirk for the opening weekend draw has Cavaliers and Hawks both pairing off against the Hobart sides on Saturday and Sunday.
"There's won't be so much sharing of any information, I don't think," Cavaliers playmaker Shelby Miller smiled.
"The teams tend to stay pretty separate during the weekend.
"There is definitely friendships there and there's time to say hello, but not so much talking tactics."
They beat Kingston in the semi-final and then Arrows in the preliminary final.
The flawless finals' campaign was wrapped up with the State League title over the Hawks.
"We tend to always get a tough first double-header, which is really great, I think, because you kind of know where the benchmark is very quickly already," Miller said.
"It's also really important the first weekend performing the relationships more than anything. It's really exciting."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
That's saying a lot from the star that took out best-afield accolades in the grand final.
Just like their side, the weekend is a fresh start.
Last season's premiership will matter for little.
"We really haven't thought about it that much, particularly because we have such a new team now," Miller said.
"We have new faces, we lost a fair few from the premiership, so it's a new year, new bunch and new goals."
Defenders Issy Maskell, Kate McLaughlin, Rachael Tempo have all left that will force rookie Shannae Heazlewood to play further back.
"Just because someone is not a natural defender does not mean they can't go in there and do the job," Miller said.
"We've been training hard to get the rotations going."
That goes the same for absorbing up pressure.
Last year four one-point wins and three against Hawks, Arrows and Blues proved that.
"We are a team that can handle pressure - that being said, Arrows are a different team and we are different," Miller said.
"So we'll have to wait and see and do our job."
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
