TSL: North Launceston recalls five, Tigers near full-strength

Last round's bye has paved the way for Alex Lee, Mark Walsh, Jack Avent, Fletcher Bennett and Billy Edmunds to return as the Bombers look to build on a seven-game winning streak - the most of any club this season.

Tom Donnelly has won another VFL call-up after good performances against Clarence and Lauderdale, while Harry Bayles (school footy) is unavailable for selection after kicking eight in the development league.

North coach Brad Cox-Goodyer said Andy Potter, Alistair Bourne, Jacob Kerr and Lockie Mitchell were unlucky to be omitted.

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"The guys that are going out haven't been playing bad football, so it's a really good spot to be in where if you're not performing and guys are in development league, there's a bit of pressure on for spots," he said.

Judah Edmunds has kept his spot in the 22 after a dazzling debut against Lauderdale, where he goaled with his first kick in the senior side.

Cox-Goodyer said only injury had kept the 20-year-old, who arrived from Victoria late last season, from playing earlier in the year.

"Judah was fantastic against Lauderdale - he took some of the pressure off with Tom Donnelly in the ruck and he rucked really well," Cox-Goodyer said.

"I thought he won the ruck battle against [Sam] Siggins when he was in there which was really exciting and when he went forward he just competes.

"He'll get to play his first senior game with his brother which is really exciting as well."

A three-game buffer in second is up for grabs should the Bombers continue their unblemished record against the Tigers at UTAS Stadium.

"Kingborough's the type of side who if you give them a sniff they'll hang around all day so the start's going to be super critical," Cox-Goodyer said.

"They've been stringing a few really good games together and you can see they're bonding and gelling this group and they got Marcus Davies back last week.

"It's a pretty important game in the context of the ladder so we're looking for the boys to come out firing."

High-flying Kingborough is nearing full-strength ahead of Saturday's top-three clash at North Launceston.

Enjoying their best-ever TSL season, the Tigers welcomed ex-Carlton defender Marcus Davies back from a firefighting course in last week's convincing win over fellow finals fancy Clarence.

Sam Rice and Sam Duigan are expected back after the bye, with star forward Tyler Carter (season-ending ankle injury) one of few names on the club's injury list.

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"The whole competition is very young when you look at average ages across all seven teams, so to have Marcus as our most experienced player come back in ... he's obviously a very important part of our footy club overall as to what he's put in and given since he's been here," Tigers coach Trent Baumeler said.

"It's a different sort of fitness to training - he's been like [Launceston captain Jobi Harper] - he's maintained his training with us not doing everything because obviously those guys can't get injured.

"To have him back out there brings experience, he understands the way we want to play and now he's got seven more games to keep building his base and hopefully be firing at the right time of the year."

The unchanged Tigers are desperate to secure their first win at UTAS Stadium, having all but locked in their second-ever finals appearance.

"Some of the young [North Launceston] guys that are coming in and playing roles for them are really good players - they really complement the guys that have been around there for a while," Baumeler said.

"They've only lost the two games this year so they're very well-led and playing good footy.

"We know we've got to play good football on UTAS as well because that's a ground where at the pointy end of the season you've got to be able to go up there and play good footy, so it's a really good challenge for us and we want to put in a really good performance going into our bye."

NORTH LAUNCESTON v. TIGERS

Round 13

Saturday 2pm, UTAS Stadium

NORTH LAUNCESTON

In: J. Avent, F. Bennett, W. Edmunds, A. Lee, M. Walsh

Out: T. Donnelly, A. Potter, A. Bourne, J. Kerr, L. Mitchell

KINGBOROUGH

In: N/A

Out: N/A