With Australia in a much healthier position than many of the world's other major sporting nations, and Tasmania further benefiting from its geographical isolation, Hardwicke said it is possible that the state could lead the way in the return to playing arenas.

And with NPL Tasmania matches being livestreamed, this could open the statewide competition to a soccer-starved global audience in the same way as the current fascination for the Belarusian Premier League.

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"Anyone could be watching anywhere in the world, especially if there are still no games being played in Europe," he said.

"With our background as Juventus, maybe people in Italy would suddenly start following Launceston City."

Hardwicke said the virus may be easier to contain on an island, and possibly Northern Territory and Western Australia, than it would be on more densely-populated bordering states up the eastern seaboard.

Like their cross-town rivals Riverside Olympic, City are being guided by Football Tasmania which remains optimistic of playing in 2020.

City's director of football Roger Mies has been in regular contact with FT's competitions manager Glen McNeill. "They are being guided by FFA and are looking at several scenarios, the best of which is a June 6 start," Mies said.

Hardwicke said it has been difficult maintaining his squad's morale and fitness during the crisis.

"We are trying to be positive because that's better than the alternative," he said.

"But there is light at the end of the tunnel that we will get some sort of season."

City's trio of English imports have been left in a quandary with Louis Anthony opting to fly home while Sam Ridgard and Rob Gerrard have stayed on in their shared house.

"It was just so frustrating for everyone," Hardwicke said. "We were four days away from kick-off, had completed a good pre-season, were ready to go and had a good deal of optimism about our players and how they were starting to gel.

"Now we are just in a holding pattern. I've just asked the players to keep themselves fit and we hope to pick up where we left off."

With many clubs sharing grounds with summer sports, any extension to the regular season could have major logistical implications.

"It's really tough for all clubs who sustain themselves by playing games and generating money at their canteens so we're just hoping they can still exist when we come out the other side of this."

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