Launceston City and Riverside await NPL Tasmania kick-off

However, it is a contrasting story for cross-town rivals Riverside who are down south for the opening two Saturdays of the campaign before the all-conquering Strikers make their second visit to the city in three weeks.

While the rest of the NPL Tasmania and Women's Super League fixtures remain a work in progress, the first three rounds have been locked in.

City will host Devonport and Kingborough with 4.30pm kick-offs on consecutive Saturdays before travelling to South Hobart on April 10 following the statewide cup weekend.

Riverside visit Kingborough and Olympia in the first two rounds before welcoming Devonport to Windsor Park.

Desperate to avoid last season's finish as the bottom two teams, the Northern neighbours are both dealing with a glut of high-profile departures including their respective top scorers.

Imports Nil Sanz and Sam Ridgard both bagged half a dozen goals last season and will leave a big onus on teammates to fill that void.

The Spanish flair of Sanz has gone to Victoria's Bulleen Lions while his former Olympic teammates Liam Gilmore and keeper Jarrod Hill have also moved to Melbourne where they will team up for Beaumaris.

City's English stars Sam Ridgard and Rob Gerrard have both moved to Queensland outfit Rochedale Rovers. Midfield dynamo Gedi Krusa has also moved to Queensland while long-serving striker Noah Mies has headed to NSW where he will play for Newcastle Olympic.

Olympic coach Alex Gaetani moved swiftly to cover for the loss of the highly-rated Hill by encouraging Daniel Nash to make the jump from City. The experienced NSW gloveman filled in admirably when Lachy Clark was injured last season.

City welcomed back Will Compagne, Will Rodman and Shane Egan from Launceston United but an 11th-hour change of coach threw a spanner in the works.

Perennial saviour Lino Sciulli, the Sam Allardyce of the NPL, is serving as interim coach following the resignation of Englishman Roger Hardwicke.