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Devils assistant coach Andrew Mellor, standing in for coach Daryn Cresswell who was attending a family funeral, said young Launceston ruckman Nathan O'Donoghue would make his Devils debut against Geelong on Sunday as speculation continues to mount the "semi-marriage" will finish at the end of this season.

"I think it is the first time this year we will have someone starting in the ruck who is not a Kangaroo-listed player because we have used (Brad) Moran, (Todd) Goldstein and (David) Hale," Mellor said.

"To have a Tasmanian carrying the No.1 ruck duties is a real plus because the future is unknown.

"He was outstanding last week in the state game. He is very fit, he's tall and can jump and Geelong has got a few players like that so he'll be a real plus for us. "

Mellor said fellow big men, Northern Bombers' Tom Bellchambers and Launceston's Tim Mohr, could also be in the running for promotion to gain experience for next season.

"If the Kangaroos are definitely not going to happen, then we need to start blooding ruckmen because we have relied on the Kangaroos pretty heavily in the ruck," Mellor said.

It will be a monumental task for the Devils to end their eight-game losing streak against second-placed Geelong.

The Cats have named the likes of Tom Hawkins, Joel Selwood, Mark Blake, James Kelly, Kane Tenace, Brent Prismall, Charlie Gardiner, Henry Playfair, Josh Hunt, David Johnston and Tasmanian Todd Grima, although Kelly, Blake, Selwood and at least one other are almost certain to line up in the AFL.

Plus they will have an emotional lift with Tom Lonergan making his football return after losing a kidney last year playing in the AFL.

But Mellor said such daunting tasks meant there were no expectations on the Devils.

"Apart from O'Donoghue, the Devils have named Brad McDonald to make his debut, while Sam Fielding and Aaron Joseph are also a chance to play their first VFL game this season.