In the second of a series of reviews, The Examiner looks at North Launceston's prospects for this year's 12-round campaign.

LAST SEASON: Premiers. Played 20, won 17, lost 3.

INS: Corey Nankervis (George Town), Zach Burt (George Town), Mark Walsh (Hillwood), Tom Bennett (Hillwood), Nathan Pearce (Hillwood), Dan Withers (Hillwood), Jake Laskey (St Pats)

OUTS: Rhyan Mansell (Woodville-West Torrens), Dakota Bannister (Bracknell), Karlton Wadley (Hillwood), Jordan Tepper (South Launceston)

The 2020 TSL season - and with it North's shot at a record-breaking fourth-straight statewide flag - looked on shaky ground on several occasions this year.

Tasmania's easing coronavirus battle ensured they wouldn't be denied their opportunity, yet it was the chance to resume normal training together last month that had the Bombers most excited.

"The first couple of weeks it was more enthusiastic players coming back and just wanting to be around the group again," North Launceston coach Taylor Whitford said.

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"That third week was probably the toughest one - it was the hardest one on the track and it was just starting to get into a bit of a grind and into the routine again, so [the season] has come at a good time.

"We'll freshen up next week and then we're ready to go - we've got North Hobart at home, Launny at Windsor and then the bye so it's a good start for us in town and we're looking forward to playing."

TSL clubs will have access to every player on their list this season with Tassie Devils players training with their clubs until further notice.

"That's a real bonus for us, we can get Jackson [Callow], Ollie [Sanders] and Blade Sulzberger back into our environment," Whitford said.

"They'll play week to week which will be good for them, and I think good for the TSL that we get to promote those kids through our competition in the absence of the NAB League."

For the three players they lost to NTFA clubs, the Northern Bombers have seven coming the other way with five - Nankervis, Walsh, Burt, Bennett and Pearce - ex-North players.

A premiership player in 2014 and 2015, Nankervis will fill a key defensive role for the Bombers after returning from stints at George Town and Geelong Football League's North Shore.

"He's a premiership player for us, his brother Toby who's playing for Richmond at the moment played here too and he's just a really loved character Corey," Whitford said.

"He moved away to Victoria to be closer with his family and they've moved back - he played for George Town last year upon return and we've got him back to the club this year.

"We're rapt to have him, he's a really solid defender and should suit us well."

Withers arrived at the club shortly after winning a premiership with Hillwood, while former St Pats coach and versatile forward Laskey has begun settling in at State League level.

"For those type of players that come up from the NTFA, they get a bit of a shock as to how different it is from the NTFA to the TSL," Whitford said.

"It's probably a feather in the cap of those players that are out-and-out TSL players like your Zach Burts and Josh Pontings and these guys with how much of a level they are above the rest.

"So I think Jake's come in with the realisation that he's got to meet that level and he's been fantastic since coming on board, he's doing all the extras and putting his hand up.

"He'll definitely play throughout the year."

Walsh and gun defender Jay Foon will play more midfield time this year after enjoying impressive pre-seasons, while young gun Sherrin Egger is expected to take the next step as a dangerous small forward.

Whitford has no shortage of swingmen in his artillery with Tom Donnelly playing in just about every position last season and star forward Burt enjoying success as a defender in 2018.

"It's probably been one of the harder things for me to deal with, our group is pretty flexible so we can play different areas and we can mould our way through it," Whitford said.

"We've got guys like Ollie Sanders that you could play off half-back flank, a wing or a forward flank so that's a luxury in itself that we can throw people in different positions, but we've got to get our 22 set come the back end of the year.

"It's going to be a bit of a fluid thing in the first half of the year I think depending on how the players pull up and where they're at form-wise as to where they play."

Part of getting that mix right will be balancing a forward line brimming with star talls.

Bennett and Burt will need to be slotted into a front six which on occasion last season included Bart McCulloch, Will Edmunds, Callow and Donnelly.

"I don't know [how the forward line will look] - it's one of those ones where we haven't had a practice game either," Whitford said.

"You throw in Jake Laskey who's in that [tall] mould as well, he came into our TSL program just before COVID hit and he's 185, 190cm so it's going to be an interesting make-up.

"I think balance is the key but the best thing is that those players can play tall and small.

"Zach Burt, Tom Bennett and Billy Edmunds, they play really small for their height - they're quite flexible and they can get up the ground.

"It depends on who we play as to the make-up we go with - whether we go taller or smaller - so that's a good challenge for me to get that right throughout the year and make sure everyone's happy."