South Launceston and Bracknell have plenty in common as they approach the 2021 NTFA season.
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Both sides have recruited heavily, feature new coaches at the helm and are touted as premiership chances after disappointing 2019 showings.
There's plenty of finals history between the pair, with the Bulldogs defeating the Redlegs in the 2017 and 2018 deciders - and now they face off in round one.
Bulldogs assistant coach Alex Payne is pleased the showdown is on his side's home turf and believes it will be a hard-fought contest.
"It huge for us, it's been a bit of a fortress up here over the past couple years for South - we've always been hard to beat up here," he said.
"I don't think there's going to be too many people taking a backwards step come 2 o'clock on Saturday."
Payne, who was originally set to coach Evandale during the 2020 season alongside Jack Maher, has made his way up to the Kennel to sit next to his former Launceston coach Anthony Taylor.
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He's joined by Jordan Harris and Darren Crawford in the coaches' box, proving the Bulldogs didn't just recruit for on-field talent.
Opposition coach Corry Goodluck has brought together an array of North-West talent to join the Redlegs in his first game as senior coach.
"It's been a little bit challenging and I was nervous to begin with but I think it's going pretty well," he said.
"It's good when you've got a good bunch of boys to coach and they all get behind you to help you out."
Like Payne, Goodluck predicted a high-quality, hard-hitting contest between the pair of premiership contenders, acknowledging their history on the big stage.
"They are always a tough side to beat and beating us in a couple of premierships, they've probably got the wood over us a little bit, so it's always challenging for us against them."
The premier division also sees an NTFA Shield grand final rematch between Deloraine and Rocherlea, while Scottsdale and Bridgenorth host Longford and Hillwood under lights.