With Division One leaders Metro having the bye this weekend, second-placed Taroona can move to within three points of them by beating second-last Christian United at home at Kelvedon Park at 2.30pm on Sunday.
Taroona will be without the suspended Darragh Carey, which allows Toby Dove to return to the side.
Dove will play as a striker, while usual front man Chris Cox will move to left-back.
Will Darling may move up from the under-19s, while midfielder Ruaidhri Carey and central defender Ben Schaap have returned from overseas and are available for selection.
“I thought overall our performance was very good last Saturday night against Beachside and, even when we were reduced to ten men, we retained possession well, passed the ball around and created scoring opportunities,” said Taroona coach, Ben Horgan.
“It’s good that here is some competition for spots now.”
Christian United trained vigorously under Mathew Sly and Leno Taglieri during the week in preparation for this match and Ben De Hoog came through it all unscathed and declared himself fit to resume at fullback.
Jesse Arnold will be back for the first time since the end of May, while Ash Page trained this week after knee problems and will return as a striker.
Kim Dae Won will be on the bench, together with Brodie Whayman, Angus Livingston and Isaac Golo.
Third-placed Beachside travels to the Showgrounds on Saturday to face fifth-placed Northern Suburbs DOSA and, on form, should come away with the three points.
Sam Howarth returns for Beachside, but Colin Wain is out because of the flu.
DOSA has been hard hit by injuries and illness, with goalkeeper Justin Farrugia one of the major absentees.
Midfielder Nick Radovanovic is out indefinitely because of a foot injury, while Jayden Hey and Richard Korn are ill.
Jeremy Parry will play in goal, while midfielder Joel Richardson and defenders Nicholas Butt and Michael Langshaw will be promoted from the under-19s.
Bottom-side Hobart United entertain fourth-placed Nelson Eastern Suburbs at Pontville on Sunday at the earlier time of 1.30pm.
Nelson keeper Nic Decarpentier is still doubtful because of a knee injury and Ben Gibson and Ollie Burden are ready to step into the breach.
Defender Rick Chew is injured and utility player Lewis Gibbs is unavailable, so midfielder-cum-striker Natsuki Futumura will come into the side.
Tom Roach returns to the defence, but there are doubts about the fitness of captain and midfielder Adam Mills.
“We have had more injuries, unfortunately, and our training facilities at North Warrane have been unavailable this week again,” said Nelson coach, Michael Roach.
“I remain confident that we can put some good football together if we can play confidently and aggressively.
“Hobart are going to be a real test for us because they have regained some key players from last year and their last couple of results show they are back.”
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