Tassie Devils coach Mathew Armstrong last night recalled experienced and dynamic on-baller Ben Atkin to the Devils line-up for Sunday's do-or-die VFL elimination final against the Frankston Dolphins at Bellerive Oval.
Atkin was rested from Tasmania's ninth-straight victory over Williamstown last week with hamstring soreness.
Seventeen-year-old Tassie Mariner Matthew Wade, who made his Devils debut last week, was omitted.
"It's a big game, an elimination final and that's what it's all about and that's why finals are so special," Armstrong said yesterday.
"We've had a light week so far concentrating on our recovery but will have a major hit out tonight and on Saturday morning, but they should be fresh and raring to go."
Apart from the suspended Brett Geappen, Armstrong has virtually a full-strength side to choose from for the cut-throat final.
Armstrong said the Devils would go into the game with confidence but had to remember the Dolphins beat them at Bellerive on Anzac Day.
"They're a good, experienced side who will come over confident as well, so it will be a terrific game of footy," he said.
The Devils returned the favour, coming from behind to beat Frankston in Melbourne in round 11.
That win was the impetus for the team's amazing run of nine straight victories that lifted it off the bottom of the ladder into the finals.
A huge home crowd is expected at Bellerive to support the Devils.
"Some of our younger blokes will get some experience of playing in front of a big crowd, so hopefully we can get over the line and win," Armstrong said.
Armstrong said he would finalise his interchange line-up today, but was considering including Burnie's Clinton Brown as an extra runner for the expected warm temperature on Sunday.
Launceston defender Scott Stephens, who was one of the Devils best players last week, is favoured to get the job on Frankston's dangerous small forward Justin Berry, who has kicked 11.3 against the Devils in their past two encounters.
Teams for Sunday
Tasmania- Player Positions
B | Shackleton | Street | Jovanovic |
HB | Stephens | N Grima | Wager |
C | Heazlewood | M Geappen | Iles |
HF | Hall | Plapp | Atkin |
F | Beams | Lonergan | Callinan |
R | Ronaldson | Setchell | Robinson |
Int | Walker | Savage | Henley |
| Britton | Johnson | Peterson | | Brown | Paine |