Three NPL games scheduled for this evening

Photo:  Olympia's Jack Ryan (left) and Knights' Tyler Harrison at today's media conference at KGV Park [PlessPix]

Glenorchy Knights or Olympia Warriors can go to the top of the NPL Tasmania standings if they win their encounter at KGV Park at 8.15pm today.

A draw would put both teams level on 4 points with current joint leaders Hobart Zebras and South Hobart.

There are two other NPL Tasmania games scheduled for this evening.

At Lightwood Park at 8pm, Kingborough Lions United tackle Clarence United, while at Buckby Land Rover Park in Launceston, Launceston City have their first league outing when they meet reigning champions Devonport City at 6.30pm.

Glenorchy Knights will still be without Callum Brown and Tyler Harrison for the game against Olympia, but Mathew Nowicki is set to return.

Harrison attended a pre-game media conference this morning and said it was nice to have started the season well with the 5-1 away win over Riverside Olympic on Saturday.

We’ve got confidence from that game, but we’ll try and keep level heads and not get too far ahead of ourselves,” Harrison said.

Harrison said the Knights were well aware of the danger that Olympia’s Jack Ryan poses at centre-forward and would have plans in place to counter the dangerous and powerful striker, who uses his body well.

“[The 5-1 win] shows our capabilities and we’ve been itching to get back into the NPL,” Harrison said.

“I think it shows we definitely belong there and it was a great start.”

Ryan said the mood in the Olympia camp was good despite Saturday’s loss to Devonport.

“We were on a high after the South Hobart game [a 2-1 win for Olympia] and it was a tough trip to Devonport [last Saturday].

“It wasn’t the result we were hoping for, but we’ve looked at the game and worked on a few things in preparation for tonight’s game.

“I don’t think we have too much to worry about.

“Looking back on the video, we don’t think they had too many chances and we shut off their attacking force and we kept ourselves in the game, even though it was a 1-0 loss.

“We didn’t play very well but we kept ourselves in the game.

“Tonight, we just have to take our chances more and be more resilient.

“I think, going forward, our confidence and team spirit will go a long way.

“We’ve done our research [on Glenorchy Knights] and we have a game plan and we’re going to stick to it.

KIngborough Lions appear too powerful for Clarence United, while Devonport City should come away with the 3 points against Launceston City.

Photo:  Olympia hit-man, Jack Ryan (left), and  Olympia coach, Rob Clarke, who is determined not to slip on a banana skin [PlessPix]

NPL Tasmania (As at 13 March 2019)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Hobart Zebras	2	1	1	0	10	1	4
South Hobart	3	1	1	1	4	4	4
Glenorchy Knights	1	1	0	0	5	1	3
Devonport City	1	1	0	0	1	0	3
Olympia Warriors	2	1	0	1	2	2	3
Kingborough Lions	1	0	0	1	1	2	0
Riverside Olympic	1	0	0	1	1	5	0
Clarence United	1	0	0	1	0	9	0
Launceston City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0