Four is set to become two this weekend in Tasmania as the Lakoseljac Cup Semi Finals are played to decide the last two clubs who will vie for a spot in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32.
With the prized spot on the Westfield FFa Cup national stage on the line, there is no doubt the stakes are significant for the four remaining sides after Devonport Strikers' 2016 Cup exploits showed what a boon qualification into the Final Rounds can be.
The first Semi Final features Glenorchy Knights hosting Launceston City at 4:00pm on Saturday at KGV in a battle of the two underdog sides remaining. Despite being the lone non-PlayStation 4 NPL side left, Knights will arguably enter the match as favourites after they pulled off a stunning come from behind win over defending champion Devonport in the previous round.
With City currently languishing in last place in the PS4 NPL Tasmania ladder, and given Knights have home grown advantage, they will be expected to progress although City's win over South Hobart in the quarter finals showed that on their day they are capable of beating anyone.
Launceston City will enter the match off the back of a 5-0 defeat to Hobart Zebras and without first choice keeper David Smith.
Knights are coming off thumping 9-0 win over Metro in the Championship last week to contiinue their unbeaten run in 2017. Having already defeated both Devonport and Kingborough the Knights will look to claim a third PS4 NPL scalp in as many rounds.
Then on Sunday, traditional rivals and two of the PS4 NPL Tasmania heavyweights get set to duel in one of the biggest games in either clubs' storied history when Olympia take on Hobart Zebras.
Things have changed pretty significantly from when the two sides met back on Anzac Day, with the respective coaches that day, Ian Shaw and Peter Savill, both no longer in charge.
Olympia may have been drawn out as the home side yet interestingly they nominated KGV, the home ground of Zebras as the venue for the match. This icould be down to the fact Warrior Park is a smaller, narrower ground which arguably suits the Zebras style more, particularly their set pieces.
By opting to play away from home, the Warriors hope to gain that extra advantage in what looms as an extremely tight match up. There is quality right across the board for both sides with both teams boasting potent frontmen, Jakub Sklenar of Olympia currently leading the PS4 NPL golden boot race on 14 goals for the season with Zebras' Mathew Sanders just behind him on 11.
The strike pair loom as key players for their respective sides as they look to book their spot in a Final that they would certainly enter as the favourites.
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