Launceston's Mitch Thorp names Kieran Lovell as TSL's best midfielder

The town end was the scoring one in the Blues' win last week and coach Mitch Thorp is predicting something similar down South this weekend.

"One thing that really stands out in this competition is everyone genuinely has a home ground advantage, I think everyone knows how to play their home ground quite well," he said.

"So we'll be conscious of particularly the wind and the breeze as typically this time of year and looking at the forecast it's always quite breezy, so maximising the time with the wind and then being able to bunker down and being hard to play against when the Tigers have got it, is going to be a key feature of the game.

"I dare say that there's only going to be one scoring end, so we faced that a little bit on the weekend against Lauderdale and did a pretty good job and hopefully we can do the same on the weekend."

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The Blues made one change for the clash, with Tasmania Devils skipper Thomas Beaumont coming out for Jordan Cowell, with Launceston's co-captain Jobi Harper not returning following his three-week suspension.

Thorp said Harper has had "a minor setback", which will see the club take a "longer-term view" with his recovery.

The co-captain would have been an exciting inclusion to the midfield battle which will see the likes of Jamieson House and Brodie Palfreyman battle Kieran Lovell, Eddie Cole and Lachie Clifford.

"The midfields know each other pretty well," Thorp said.

"Their midfield hasn't changed in the last couple of years and Lovell is was clearly the best midfielder in the competition and then they've got some real serviceable workmen like Clifford and Cole as an example that that really support him quite well, so we're going to have to be on our game.

"Last time we played them, Lovell really got a hold of us, he had 18 clearances so we'll have to make sure we do a better job this time on clamping him at the source."

The TSL clubs will have their Tasmania Devils players available for selection next week, with Launceston set to gain their three national championship-winning Allies in a major boost to the side.

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