Tough losses like those experienced by North Melbourne on the weekend are the type of results that can drop morale and hamper progression, especially when they occur in such an early stage of the long and rigorous AFL season.

After showing promising signs against Hawthorn and defeating West Coast in the first two games of the season, the Kangaroos were torn apart by an experienced Brisbane side expecting to be competing for premiership glory come season's end.

While there are no easy games at the top level, the Kangaroos' fixture doesn't get any kinder as they travel to Sydney to take on the Swans this weekend, but senior coach David Noble has backed those who played to rebound from last week's embarrassing defeat.

"I don't think it's as easy as all of a sudden you drop five or six [players]. We're working on a way we want to play, we're working on a level of offence, defence and contest. Hopefully guys will value their spots through their training performance," Noble said.

"Guys' positions become vulnerable when you put performances on the board like that … [but] you also have to give the guys that were in those games the opportunity to respond.

"There's an element of backing those guys in to deliver a better outcome this week."

Sydney will be looking to bounce back from a Round 3 loss of its own after going down to the Western Bulldogs by 11 points.

Coached by former Kangaroo John Longmire, the Swans have forged a reputation as a side who relishes the contested midfield battle in recent years, while established forward options like Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney allow them to make the most of every forward 50 entry they produce.

Noble says Sydney offers the best possible challenge for his side to rebound from last week's disappointment and show its true colours.

"I've been really impressed with what John Longmire's managed to do up there with that group in the last 18 months. We're expecting its going to be a tough contest, we've got to be on our mettle, Noble said.

"They pride themselves on their contested possessions and they're really strong in their one-on-one battles ... we couldn't ask for a better challenge this week, coming out of last week, to take on a team who plays in that manner.

"We know there's a journey we're on. There's going to be some bumps, we know that. We certainly expect a response this week.

"We know what we're capable of delivering and it certainly wasn't anywhere near what it was on the weekend."