North Launceston already has shown no early signs of intimidation on the eve of its tough TSLW derby opener.
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Captain Jodie Clifford has put the onus on Launceston to come out hard after their heartbreaking grand final - and only - loss last season.
Despite being on the end of Blues' beltings by 48, 93 and 80 points, a recruiting spree that yielded 11 new recruits including eight debuting on Saturday has the Bombers talking up their chances.
"We've set the premiership as is our goal because we aim high, so we'll work towards that," Clifford said.
"Launceston is a real tough first hit out but we know they have a change in their list so we think that's a really exciting thing for us to be able to come out and be really competitive, and hopefully teach them a bit of a lesson about football - just maybe."
The Bombers in just their second TSLW season raided available talent from NTFAW and the North West coast to make up ground from their credible fourth-place finish.
Clifford is confident that playing to new strengths is the way to take the game on.
"Some of our new recruits have really strengthened us around the ground," she said.
"I think our structures and each of our lines, especially the defence, has got a little more experience in it, our midfield has got some bigger bodies for that inside contested ball and we've also got a bit of speed and youth.
"So, I think it will give us a really nice balance in terms of across the whole ground."
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Launceston coach Angela Dickson is expecting a real inside contest against one of the more physical rivals.
So almost on cue, Daria Bannister has been pulled from half forward into the midfield with Mia King and Jennifer Guy in what Dickson calls "almost unstoppable".
After experiencing another AFLW season, Bannister will add to her burst game that led to last year's leading TSLW goalkicker award.
Launceston unexpectedly gained Mia King for an extra season after being unable to head back to Melbourne for university after a top debut season at the Kangaroos.
"It's just getting out there and putting into practice a few things we've been working in preseason around our structures," Dickson said.
"We know it's just round 1, we know there's going to be nerves, there will be skill errors and that, but we're not out to prove a point."
But while that may be the case against their opponents, Dickson admits a fire burns in the belly 10 months since that three-point heartbreak.
"For a lot of our players we had a bit of those what ifs on grand final day last year. So they're eager to get back out there, build on what we had last year and hopefully rectify what happened at the end of the season," she said.
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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.
