Neighbours Riverside and Launceston United will both be desperate to kickstart their McDonald's Women's Super League campaigns this weekend.
Without a win between them, the teams sit on one point each separated only by goal difference with just Taroona keeping them off the bottom of the ladder.
United have the consolations of an 11-1 Statewide Cup win over University to their name and import striker Olivia De Moraes already up to seven goals for the season.
Olympic also come in on the back of a successful result having won an appeal against import keeper Monica Hernandez’s red card for a challenge on Devonport forward Jaz White last weekend.
Both sides also have new coaches at the helm and Riverside’s Emil Fadel was delighted to have his American shot-stopper available again.
“Especially an important player like Monica who dictates our backline,” he said. “She is a sweeper-keeper so there is an element of risk but she can transition the game quite fast so to lose her was a hard pill to take.
“It was clear that it was a clean challenge. We appealed and it was successful, the red card was rescinded and she’s available this week.”
Fadel said squad availability had led to the side’s inconsistency but added: “We give ourselves every chance because every game we go into we treat as the most important we’ve had all season.”
United coach Nate Wright has enjoyed watching his established players welcome the side’s imported spine of American defender Liz Fogarty, Canadian midfielder Delana Friesen and Brazilian striker De Moraes.
“We've got a good bunch of girls now, and some real quality players that have come in, now it's just about getting them to mesh,” he said.
“I still think we haven't had a full-strength squad yet, and it's going to start getting better for us so I think the next few games are going to show what we're really made of and I'm looking forward to that.
“The quality that I've brought in, mixed with the quality of the players that we retained, I think we're in a good position to get some more points on the board this week.”
Meanwhile, in McDonald's NPL Tasmania, 2024 champions Glenorchy find themselves in the unaccustomed position of seventh with four losses to their name as they travel to a Kingborough side chasing a fourth league victory.
Tenacious target man Noah Mies has scored in five of Lions’ six games so far and with their only losses coming to the undefeated pace-setters South Hobart and Devonport, coach Jon Fenech would like to see his side vying for another top-three finish.
“After those defeats against South and Devonport, we found a bit of form,” he said. “The team is now gelling and playing the sort of football that we hope to play. And going into this game we are eager to continue that winning streak.
“I think on our day, we can match anyone in the league.”
Glenorchy’s Chilean midfielder Andres Lagos said Jamie Sherman’s new-look team was improving each week.
“It's been probably not the start we've all wanted in terms of results,” he said.
“No-one said this was going to be easy. That being said, I think the results don't really show what this team can produce.
“We're getting better every week and I'm very excited about the game this weekend because we've got a really talented playing group. People are yet to see what Knights are about (and we’re) definitely looking forward to proving people wrong.”
McDonald's NPL Tasmania, Round 6
Saturday, April 18
2.30pm Ulverstone v South Hobart, Westside Park
2.30pm Kingborough v Glenorchy, Lightwood Park Kitchen Centre Park
2.30pm Riverside v Launceston United, Windsor Park
4.45pm Launceston City v Clarence, Prospect Vale Community Bank Deloraine & Districts Park
Sunday, April 19
2.30pm South East United v Devonport, South East Complex
McDonald's Women's Super League, Round 5
Saturday, April 18
2.30pm Launceston City v Devonport, Prospect Vale Community Bank Deloraine & Districts Park
4.45pm Kingborough v South Hobart, Lightwood Park Kitchen Centre Park
4.45pm Riverside v Launceston United, Windsor Park
Sunday, April 19
1pm Glenorchy v Taroona, KGV