NTFA's premier division and division one flag favourites will meet in a bushfire relief match at Rocherlea on Friday night.
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Reigning division one premiers Lilydale will face Rocherlea in their final pre-season hit-out as a host of former TSL talents including Josh Ponting, Thane Bardenhagen and Sonny Whiting go head to head.
The clash will have special significance for Demons coach Colin Lockhart, who has 31 years' professional firefighting experience as well as 2019's state senior coach of the year award to his name.
The Demons also boast ageless ruckman Andrew McLean among a number of volunteer firefighters among their ranks.
RELATED: Ponting excited for Rocherlea return
"Something like this really interests me because I've seen it first-hand with fires in Victoria and Sydney," Lockhart said.
"As a Launceston firey people say 'you don't travel', but we travelled to Dunalley we went to Mole Creek fires.
"When [Rocherlea's] Steve Suter rang me I was in for it - as a group we had a pretty good year last year and we want to challenge ourselves.
"I reckon [Rocherlea] will be the side to beat and hopefully we'll be a side to beat in the other division so it'll be a good learning curve because we're young [this year]."
The two sides enjoyed a tight battle when they last met in a practice match in 2016 when Rocherlea went on to win a flag and Lilydale made it through to the grand final.
Both sides appear equally as strong this campaign with Lilydale enjoying huge improvement from young guns Shaun Avent, Ty Dingjan and Declan Ellis with only ex-captain Robert Blair (marathon running) exiting.
Rocherlea has picked up superstar midfielder Ponting and NTFA high-fliers Zane Brown and Michael Murfet after proving the surprise packet of last season.
"We've put a lid on it - we know internally we've got a lot of work to do," Suburban Tigers coach Andrew Cox-Goodyer said.
"Last year was a big step going forward and we've gone out and got the players we thought we needed to go the next step.
"There's a lot of noise outside the club but we know we've got a lot of work to do."
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The Tigers are also expected to welcome 2016 premiership star Josh Holton back from Perth in the near future.
"That's still pending but I think we've sorted through that - he's a welcome addition back to the club he's played most of his footy at," Cox-Goodyer said.
"He'll be handy for us and he's been training already which is good.
"We know he's a good forward so he'll be playing down there in his natural habitat."
Signed Melbourne and Gold Coast guernseys and a Marcos Ambrose helmet will be among the items up for auction post-match.
FAST FACTS
- What: Rocherlea v Lilydale
- When: 6pm, Friday
- Where: Rocherlea Football Club
- How much: $5 entry