The relegation axe will be looming over Birch Avenue when Launceston United and Ulverstone fight for their Statewide survival on Saturday.
The rivals currently occupy McDonald's NPL Tasmania’s bottom two places and face the prospect of dropping into regional competition if they can’t make up the five-point gap to eighth-placed South East United.
With just a solitary point apiece - coming from their third-round 1-1 draw at Westside Park - both sides know their chances of remaining in Statewide competition are running out.
Respective goal differences of -30 and -33 are all that keep United in the higher position and player-coach Gedi Krusa is itching to extend the advantage after a few weeks off due to cup finals and last Saturday’s postponement.
“Obviously, it's a big game,” he said. “Every game is big for us. Every game is like a final.”
Ulverstone coach Michael Amos agreed it was probably the most important game of the season for both sides.
“Realistically, both teams have to get a win here,” he said. “A draw for either of us is probably not ideal so it really is a big game for both sides.”
Although Ulverstone face the possibility of relegation in their maiden NPL season, Amos said the competition had been largely what was expected.
“Obviously, you learn things as you go along. As a club, as players, as coaches, we all do that as we step up into the bigger leagues. We knew it was going to be a big challenge right from the start. It's a huge step from Championship up to NPL.
“I do feel we're improving every week. We're really starting to become very competitive.”
Meanwhile, Krusa was staying tight-lipped about potential mid-season squad changes ahead of the pivotal contest.
“We tried to recruit some,” admitted the Lithuanian tactician. “We can see what we need to improve, where we need to be better, so we always try to get someone who can strengthen us. We'll see who comes, who leaves at this stage. I can't say everything.”
The McDonald’s Women's Super League match of the round also unites Northern rivals level on points and separated only by goal difference.
Launceston City and Launceston United sit sixth and fifth respectively with 10 points each.
United have enjoyed a handful of big wins this season, including 7-0 when the sides previously met in round four, and have a healthy +10 goal difference. City meanwhile have ground out four draws to go with two wins over Taroona but have a -18 goal difference following a horror run of 0-6, 0-6, 0-7 and 0-5 between rounds four and seven.
The match-up comes just a few hours after Australia and USA meet at the men’s World Cup and the coaches said there had been plenty of banter involving American imports Liz Fogarty at United and City’s Mia Judd.
“Yeah, 100 per cent,” said United’s Nathan Wright. “My big centre-back is American through and through and I think we've got a personal bet going, so it'll be good to see how that one pans out.”
City coach Alex Aylott said Judd had also shown her true colours this week.
“I think there was a moment at training on Tuesday, where one of the girls made a comment about Australia winning or something, and she was pretty quick to bite back,” he said. “So the banter's been pretty entertaining.”
Wright also hinted at the possible return of California-born US/Brazil striker Olivia De Moraes who hit 19 goals in all competitions before heading home after the Statewide Cup final.
“That is a possibility, yes," he said. "We'll have a look, see how it goes, but the possibility is that she might be returning for us.”
McDonald's NPL Tasmania, Round 12
Saturday, June 20
2.30pm Launceston United v Ulverstone, Birch Avenue Kemlec Park
2.30pm Riverside Olympic v Launceston City, Windsor Park: WASHED OUT, TO BE RESCHEDULED
2.30pm Devonport v Clarence, Tassie Care Valley Road
2.30pm South East United v Glenorchy, South East Complex
Sunday, June 21
1.15pm Kingborough v South Hobart, Lightwood Park Kitchen Centre Park
McDonald's Women's Super League, Round 11
Saturday, June 20
12.15pm Devonport v Riverside Olympic, Tassie Care Valley Road
2.30pm Launceston City v Launceston United, Prospect Vale Community Bank Deloraine & Districts Park
Sunday, June 21
1pm Glenorchy v South Hobart, KGV
3.30pm Kingborough v Taroona, Lightwood Park Kitchen Centre Park