Wednesday's 7pm UTAS Stadium blockbuster sees reigning premier North Launceston and ladder-leader Launceston meet at opposite ends of their most intensive fixture blocks.

Taylor Whitford's Bombers have made just one change for their third game in 10 days, while Mitch Thorp's Blues have made two as they embark on an identical run.

The stakes are high with the winner to go a game clear and assume favouritism for the minor premiership.

Launceston ended an 18-game, six-year losing streak against the Bombers in round two as Jobi Harper and Fletcher Seymour starred in a 19-point win.

The Blues have been top of the table since despite a one-point loss to Clarence, while North Launceston has improved steadily with forwards Bart McCulloch, Baynen Lowe and Jake Laskey key contributors in a four-game winning streak.

"I look at our side compared to round two and it's a vast difference," Whitford said.

"We said at the start of the year that your round one side never works out to be your last side for the year whether you're playing round 22 or a final.

"I'd hope that we've improved but I'm assuming Launceston have improved also, so we'll probably get a better representation of where the sides are at.

"Last time we didn't play anywhere near [as well as] we'd like to which was disappointing - hopefully this time we can rectify a few things around the contest."

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The Blues have changes of their own, with Devils speedster Isaac Chugg let loose onto UTAS' wide wings and exciting forward James Gillow back in the senior side.

"[Chugg] played round one and found his way out of the side," Thorp said.

"He's been in terrific form and we just think that a big ground with his athletic attributes it suits him."

North Launceston's forward line boasts up to five genuine talls while the Blues' defence is small but agile.

Both coaches were happy to back their troops in.

"Jamieson House is a big lad, he's our key defender and he'll have to play on one of their key forwards and Jake Smith plays taller than what he is so we're really comfortable with that," Thorp said.

"Those boys have done a great job over the last six games so that's something that we're used to is those guys playing a little bit undersized, but we feel like if we can bring the ball to ground it gives us a chance to exit their forward 50."

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Whitford said the quality of forward-50 entries would be telling.

"With Bart and Jackson Callow and Tom Bennett and these type of players we're potentially going to get a match-up that we can take advantage of hopefully if we're moving the ball well enough up the field," he said.

"Both of our defences defend as a collective rather than one-on-one, so it probably comes back to what you're doing with the footy coming forward and how you're defending the footy when you're on defence."

The Bombers have regained Dan Withers but Braden van Buuren remains on the sidelines, while Blues veterans Thorp and Tim Bristow are likely to be given until Sunday's Kingborough clash to find full fitness.

Michael Musicka (corkie) hopes to be back for the round nine Glenorchy clash.

"After the Lauderdale game he had three nights in hospital with a pretty severe hit but he's training now and we're looking forward to him returning," Thorp said.

"He had pretty severe bleeding but he's a tough boy and he's looking forward to getting back into it."

NORTH LAUNCESTON v. LAUNCESTON

Wednesday, 7pm at UTAS Stadium

NORTH LAUNCESTON

In: D. Withers

Out: F. Bennett

LAUNCESTON

In: I. Chugg, F. Seymour

Out: S. Williams, B. Pearce