Joffrey N'Koso returns to Hobart with Pascoe Vale

Photo:  Joffrey N'Koso (left) is looking forward to playing for Pascoe Vale against South Hobart. [PlessPix] 

There are a host of pre-season friendlies this weekend to excite fans a week out from the Summer Cup.

Devonport Strikers host NPL rivals Glenorchy Knights at Valley Road at 2pm, while the two clubs’ under-21s do battle at noon.

These clubs are the winners of the past two NPL titles so it should be an interesting sparring match.

NPL club South Hobart welcome Victorian second-tier side Pascoe Vale to South Hobart Oval for a 2pm showdown.

Pascoe Vale have been regular visitors here in the past but this is their first visit since 2020.

In 2020, they beat South Hobart 8-1 at South Hobart Oval.

Tomorrow’s game will see the return to Hobart of former Olympia Warriors and Glenorchy Knights winger, Joffery N’Koso.

N’Koso is being used as a box-to-box midfielder by Pascoe Vale’s new coach, Alex Cobo.

“I’m very excited about coming back and playing against South Hobart,” said N’Koso, who went to Melbourne two season ago.

“We’ll have a full 22-man squad and a very strong team, but we’ll be changing players during the game.

“I think I’ve improved out of sight and our players have pushed me to be better, I think.

“The previous coach was playing me at left wing, but the new coach was trying our various formations and experimenting and he’s been playing me as an attacking box-to-box midfielder.”

South Hobart coach Ken Morton said his side will be similar to the one that drew 3-3 last weekend with Victorian club Dandenong Thunder.

Photo:  Nick O'Connell (second from left) will start for South Hobart ahead of Jake Hayers (right). [PlessPix] 

“O’Connell will start in goal again and we may have Jack Bowman at centre-back,” Morton said.

“We might get more game time out of Jackson Dent as well.

“Jayden Hey has returned from Europe and, although he’s fit, we may rest him because of the long flight.  He’s only had one training session since he got back.

“We’ll try and get an hour, or maybe more, out of the main group and makes changes as necessary.

“One or two of the youngsters may be getting a chance.”

At 11.30am, South Hobart’s Under-21s will face Launceston City’s Under-21s.

Photo:  Gediminas Krusa and Lachlan Clark will be in action for Launceston City again this season. [PlessPix] 

The Launceston City NPL side will meet Olympia Warriors’ Southern Championship side at Warrior Park at 2pm.

At Kelvedon Park, Taroona’s Southern Championship side will entertain NPL club Launceston United at 11am, while at 1pm, Taroona will play Launceston United in a Women’s State League match.