Robbie Tarrant knew Jarrad Waite’s arrival at Arden Street would have a big impact on his career.

The former Carlton forward had been signed to bolster North’s attack alongside Drew Petrie and Ben Brown meaning Tarrant would have to shift to defence yet again in order to move forward in his career.

Instead of approaching the move to the backline with disappointment, the 26-year-old relished the opportunity.

With 21 games under his belt so far this season – a career best – Tarrant has become North’s main stopper, playing on the competition’s most dangerous forwards.

This week, Sydney’s Kurt Tippett looms.

“Tippett’s in really good form, it’s going to certainly be a challenge this weekend,” Tarrant told the Herald Sun’s Gilbert Gardiner.

While he’s played in Tippett before, and kept him to one goal, Tarrant knows Sydney will still hit the scoreboard hard despite missing Lance Franklin (mental health) and Sam Reid (hamstring).

“He’s (Tippett) in really good touch at the minute and they’re a quality side, they’ve got goalkicking mids and their half forwards are really good, they’re still very dangerous,” he said.

Tarrant said he has plenty of support inside and outside of the club and speaks often to his older brother Chris, a former Collingwood and Fremantle swingman.

“He’s (Chris) someone I speak to quite regularly about football, probably the only person outside of the club really that I speak to about it,” Tarrant said.

“He’s been a massive support for me.”

Tarrant has held the likes of Tom Hawkins (twice), Travis Cloke and Nick Riewoldt to one-goal games but knows it’s all about a team effort.

“Each week the key forward has a different strength; it is a challenge but something I really look forward to,” he said.

“It’s been more about the back six, Lachie (Hansen) and Spud (Firrito) and Turbo (Thompson), they’re very good at dropping off and giving you support in the air, so as a back six we’ve been able to keep them [forwards] quiet.”

Tarrant knows the foursome will need to be at their best if they’re to advance to the preliminary finals and equal last year’s feat.

“We’ll back ourselves in that when we play our best football that we’ll give it a good shot,” he said.

Earlier this year, Tarrant turned his back on free agency and signed a four year deal with North and will be at the club until at least 2019.