With so many players graduating to senior ranks, the club was unable to field an under-18 side this season.

But the positive side-effect has been the impact many of those teenagers have had in the NPL Tasmania.

First-team coach Roger Hardwicke has been grateful for their input.

"While results have not been what everyone hoped for, there have been a huge amount of positives in our young players," he said.

"Mason Gardner has done a superb job at full-back, James Hawes is a 17-year-old facing the toughest job in the competition - playing in the middle of the park - but scored for us the other week, has played a couple of great games and is getting valuable NPL experience."

Will Fleming, Stefan Tantari and Josh Bula have also featured in first-team squads and, while a bit older, Isaac Degetto is among several others making the occasional step up from Northern Championship.

"This just shows the club is producing a lot of talent," Hardwicke added.

"These young players suggest the future of the club is looking good.

"It's just about them getting experience, putting on a bit of weight because it is a physical league and getting used to the pace because it is a big jump from the championship to NPL.

"Once they see one get an opportunity, they have all been busting a gut at training to do the same and from a coach's point of view that is great to see young players not afraid to back their ability."

Despite a disappointing campaign which has yielded just one point from eight fixtures, City have only twice lost by more than one goal and Hardwicke is understandably frustrated.

A run of five straight fixtures in Launceston began with Saturday's visit of Kingborough who struck twice late on to snatch a 2-1 win.

For the second week running, a troublesome ankle injury prevented Sam Ridgard from completing the game but the English captain, whose stunning volley had put City ahead, is expected to return this week.

City will play in their traditional 4.30pm twilight slot against a South Hobart team walloped 4-1 by champions Devonport on Saturday.

Ridgard was also on target when City scored twice late on in the teams' previous meeting in July but it wasn't enough to prevent a 3-2 loss.

Glenorchy and Olympia will be the next two visitors to Prospect, either side of City's derby at Riverside.

The average age of Riverside's defence is set to keep plummeting.

Having lost the experience of Jon O'Neill, Ethan Olner and Luca Vigilante to injury over the course of the season, coach Alex Gaetani's faith in youth has been well rewarded.

Tom Prince, Aaron Kidmas and Will Humphrey have formed a solid bond which belies their youthfulness, backed up by last season's league rising star Jarrod Hill in goal.

Prince has even chipped in with a couple of valuable goals, including the opener in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Olympia, but a hamstring injury suffered late on will require yet more tinkering.

Fortunately Gaetani has another youngblood lined up.

After several appearances off the bench, Max Reissig made his first NPL start and looked comfortable in the holding midfield role vacated when captain Taylor Neilson was a late withdrawal with a leg injury.

"Max came in for Taylor at the last minute and was really impressive, as good as anyone on the field," Gaetani said.

"He knows how to play. He keeps everything simple and is good technically. He knows his position and what to do and although that sounds simple, it's hard to do. I cannot see him dropping out of the team after that."

Unable to break into Launceston City's under-18 squad, Reissig headed to Olympic last season, won their 18s' best and fairest award and made his first-team debut still aged just 16.

"Having lost Jono, Ethan and Luca, we had no choice but to replace with youth but they are working out OK," Gaetani added. "Any one of those back three could play in midfield with their ability."

Olympic face the daunting trip to Devonport on Saturday but are hopeful of an upset having come so close to a point against the champions in the opening round.

Gaetani said Neilson is a 50-50 proposition while Prince is almost certainly out, having been the one denied by Nathan Pitchford's fingertips in the final seconds of that 1-0 defeat.

"If we play like we did on Saturday, I'll be confident we can come away with something but there are no easy games," he said.