The Match of the Round for Round 12 will see another Sunday top-of-the-table showdown at D'arcy Street, with South Hobart - having vanquished the Glenorchy Knights a week prior - now facing a Devonport Strikers side looking to bump them from the summit.
South Hobart boss Ken Morton admitted it would be a challenging game, but one he was looking forward to.
“We always look forward to the big games and there is no bigger game than playing Devonport," he said.
"They are a fantastic club, a very good team who are well organized and it will be a tough game.”
Morton suggested his side’s approach would be a positive one, to take the game to the Strikers.
“We’ve got to go out in that manner, to win the game," he said.
"At the same time, we need to be tight and organised behind the ball; Devonport have many options in attack and can play in various ways, so we have to be ready for what they are going to throw at us.
"I am sure it will be an exciting game.”
It will be the second consecutive week that South face a top-of-the-table clash, having downed the Glenorchy Knights 3-2 the week prior. After storming to a 3-0 lead, South had goalkeeper Nicholas O’Connell to thank for preserving the victory, as the Knights almost snatched a point in the final moments. Morton was pleased with the opening 60 minutes, but wanted his side to maintain that level for longer periods this week.
"I thought the first sixty minutes were very good, we played some good football in good moments and shaped our attacks quite well," he said.
"The game changed on the first penalty, which gave Knights some momentum.
They changed their approach and we didn’t adjust quickly enough to that but hopefully, we can maintain it for a full 90 minutes this weekend."
Morton felt conditions could make life tough for both sets of players, but he was nonetheless expecting both teams to play attacking football.
"The conditions won't be the best; the weather has been on the wet side, so the ground will be probably heavy once again," he said,.
"I think both teams will play with a positive attitude, and we will have both sides looking to get that win."
Devonport Strikers coach Tom Ballantyne said it would be an important game, but there was still a long way to go in the title race yet.
“We are looking forward to playing South, we always have good games against each other and we are hoping for another one," he said.
“It's hugely important for both teams; it’s very tight at the top of the table, there are still four teams in contention who could win the league.
"There are still 10 Rounds to go, so regardless of who wins or loses on Sunday, it's certainly not going to be over - we’ve got to play Knights twice more, it’s a long season still to be played.”
Ballantyne felt that South had shown more consistency this season to occupy the top spot.
"They’re not dropping points against teams they did last year, they’ve become more consistent," he said.
"Last year they and Knights both dropped points when you wouldn’t expect them to, and this season they haven’t.”
He said his side was close to full strength ahead of Sunday's clash.
“There is always the odd knock or injury in the squad that you’re dealing with, but we’ve got pretty much a full squad, with the two new signings who have come in and they’re looking really good," he said.
"So we are happy with where we are at.”
One of those new signings is former Zebras import striker, Xuan Cappellino, who starred in the 2023 seasons and will boost their attacking options, with Ballantyne delighted to have signed the Argentine.
“We were very happy to pick him up, what he brings is technical excellence," he said.
"He is very good technically, he is good in the air, good on the floor, he is close to a complete striker at this level.“
The other signing will see Mitch Higgins make the move from Clarence Zebras, where he had enjoyed an outstanding season in goals to date, a move Ballantyne suggested was to do with wanting more leadership at the back.
“We wanted to bring someone in with a bit more voice," he said.
"We’ve had some big strong personalities in goals previously and just thought that was something we needed moving forward into the second half of the season.”
Elsewhere in Round 12 action, Launceston United have perhaps their strongest chance to date of breaking their duck, as they host seventh-placed Riverside at Birch Avenue, though they will still enter as underdogs as Riverside’s form has been on the uptick recently.
Launceston City will look to bounce back from consecutive defeats and regain some ground on the top four as they travel to Wentworth Park to take on a Clarence Zebras side looking to close within 2 points of them on the table.
Whilst finally at Lightwood Park on Saturday evening, the Kingborough Lions and Glenorchy Knights will meet in a rematch of the recent Lakoseljac Cup Final, with a win vital for both sides to keep their title hopes alive.
Round 12
Saturday 29 July
Launceston United v Riverside Olympic. 2:15pm, Birch Avenue LIVE STREAM
Clarence Zebras v Launceston City, 2:30pm, Wentworth Park LIVE STREAM
Kingborough Lions v Glenorchy Knights, 6:30pm, Lightwood Park LIVE STREAM
Sunday 30 July
South Hobart v Devonport Strikers, 2:00pm, Darcy Street LIVE STREAM