For the Kangaroos, this weekend is the biggest clash of the home and away season. There's absolutely no doubting that.

After campaigning for Good Friday football for three decades, North Melbourne is cementing itself as a constant presence in the holiday fixture, and the Kangaroos will once again take on the Western Bulldogs.

A much improved showing against the Swans has North fans hopeful for another strong performance, while the Bulldogs are hoping to kickstart their campaign.

Here are four of the most pressing questions ahead of the Good Friday SuperClash with the Bulldogs.

How to win without Zurhaar?

Since his debut in 2017, Cam Zurhaar's game has evolved to the point where, on his day, he's one of the most important members of the Kangaroos' forward structure.

It's been in the past two seasons where he's taken his game to the next level, finishing as North's leading goalkicker in 2020 before following up with 31 goals in 2021. In those two seasons where he's cemented his place he's missed just three games. All have been losses. 

Zurhaar may have started the season slowly so far, but his performance against Sydney indicated a return to the best of 'The Bull'. There's no doubting he thrived off of the contest provided against the Swans, but he will miss the Good Friday SuperClash due to a concussion sustained in Round 4.

There are a number of options battling to be named in the forward line with one of Eddie Ford and Charlie Comben the most likely to come into the side, and Jack Ziebell's performance last week will take some pressure off the club's other mid-sized forwards.

If the Kangaroos are to emerge from the Good Friday SuperClash victorious then they'll have to do something they've not managed since Round 23, 2018. Win without Cam Zurhaar.

How much can be raised for the Good Friday Appeal?

On Good Friday, the football takes a back seat.

The hallmark of this fixture is the work North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs do to help raise funds for the Good Friday Appeal and the Royal Children's Hospital.

If there's one game Kangaroos game you go to this season, let it be this one. Get down to Marvel Stadium on Friday afternoon and support not only your North Melbourne Kangaroos, but one of the most important days on the footballing calendar.

Can last week's intensity become habit?

Despite the fact it resulted in a narrow loss, fans were pleased with the intent shown by the Kangaroos in last week's clash against Sydney.

The Swans have made the SCG a fortress in recent months and have won nine of their last 11 games at the venue. For North to be in a position to win the game so soon after such a disappointing showing the week before is testament to the drive of the playing group.

It was the tackling pressure and sheer intensity of the Kangaroos that made them run so close with the Swans. After registering just 40 tackles as a team against Brisbane in Round 3, they finished the Swans clash with 66. A marked improvement.

For a club that's often defined itself by its underdog status and willingness to muck in and excel at the gritty side of the game, the Brisbane performance bordered on unacceptable. What was shown against the Swans cannot be the exception to the rule for this Kangaroos group. 

They've now proven they can take it up to some of the best with their intensity, now its time to bring that week in, week out.

How to stop the Bulldogs' midfield?

It's been said many times that to build a good side you have to start with the midfield.

That's certainly what the Western Bulldogs have done. As their midfield has progressed, so have the team's fortunes. After appearing in last season's Grand Final it's a fair statement to say the Bulldogs have one of the best midfields in the competition.

Led by the mercurial Marcus Bontempelli, the likes of Bailey Smith, Tom Liberatore, Adam Treloar, Jack Macrae and Josh Dunkley make up an unbelievably well-rounded midfield group that can provide inside grit, outside run, classy ball movement and goals galore. They're a serious threat to whoever takes them on.

With their 1-3 start to the season, the Bulldogs have begun this campaign more slowly than they might have liked, but the Kangaroos have to be wary of the power they contain in the middle of the ground.

Match-ups in the middle will be key. Bailey Scott, Luke McDonald and Kayne Turner have all shown the ability to complete a run-with role if required, while the man-marking aspect of 99-gamer Jy Simpkin is one of the most rapidly improving parts of his game.

David Noble has said previously that he'll back his team's defence to stop any opposition player that might break the leash as opposed to turning to a traditional tagger.

That team defence will need to be in tip-top shape if the Kangaroos are going to win the battle in the middle of the ground.