The Blues have won the past three match-ups with two balls to spare (T20), two balls to spare (one-day) and two runs to spare (two-day) and could jump up to second on the Cricket North ladder with another win.

"We're excited - we've been looking forward to the two-day stuff with how we've been going before Christmas," Riverside skipper Tom Garwood said.

"Every time we play South - even in the T20s on the weekend - it seems to come to the last over or the last minute.

"If we back in what we've been planning on doing we'll hopefully get the four points but they are a good side."

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South Launceston could look to blood Charlie Skipper after a promising performance in the T20s, but will not regain any of their frontline quicks for the second half of the season.

Josh Freestone has returned to the UK after missing the start of the season with knee surgery while Jackson Young has recommitted to Clarence.

All-rounder Ishang Shah will return to A-grade after finding form in the T20s with Brodie Jarrad (shoulder) to follow in the coming weeks.

South captain Sean Harris backed his side to reach top form in the second half of the season after missing out on the one-day finals.

"If we were to assess how we've been going in the limited overs stuff it'd be well below average," Harris said.

"Some of the results were pretty good and we played some good cricket in some of the games we lost, but as far as our performances go on an individual and team basis they were pretty average."

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LAUNCESTON will be forced into several changes for its two-day opener against Mowbray with several players attending the wedding of Lions paceman Tom Gray and women's all-rounder Victoria Geale.

The Lions will get a good look at their squad depth with skipper Alistair Taylor expecting to use up to 16 players across a weekend also featuring a T20 final and one-day semi-final.

Raiders duo Will Bennett and Sam Elliston-Buckley pulled on green for the first time this season in last weekend's T20s but are unlikely to do so again soon.

"Will's got school cricket soon so I doubt we'll see Will playing A-grade for us until possibly finals depending on selection," Taylor said.

"We probably won't see Sam play for Launceston until the Raiders might have a bye or the end of the season which is good for him - he's playing against some good opposition and he'll come back better for the club."

Eagles coach James Storay believes his side does its best work in the longer format and is excited to line up against the Lions.

"Obviously there's a lot of hype around them at the moment so we're chomping at the bit to have a go at them," he said.

The clash marks opener Will Dakin's last game before school cricket while Aaron Hughes looks set to make the step up after impressing in the T20 cup.

"I think Aaron will get a good crack at the two-day stuff in A-grade with us this year which is probably something he's been working towards in the last couple of years while he's been captain of second-grade," Storay said.

"He's certainly deserved his chance to play."

The two games begin at 10.30am and will be played side by side at the NTCA No.1 and 2 grounds.