North Melbourne will take on what is presently the toughest away trip in football on Friday night. This clash with a high-flying but undermanned Fremantle side offers the Kangaroos an opportunity to put in their best showing of the season.

The Roos' recent history against the Dockers leaves something to be desired, but will a win over Fremantle for the first time in almost four years prove to be the catalyst for turning things around this season?

There are a number of questions to be answered and stories to be told this weekend, but here are four of the most pressing.

How can the Roos cover for the absence of Nick Larkey?

For the first time since Round 10, 2020, the Kangaroos enter a home and away clash without the services of number one key forward Nick Larkey.

Over those last 36 games, he has kicked a staggering 68 goals. There's no doubting that a firing Larkey has proved crucial to North Melbourne's fortunes in recent times.

After he was suspended for one match for an incident against Carlton, the biggest selection question this week centres around who takes his place. The biggest tactical question is how the Roos' forward line will cover the loss of their leader and linchpin.

Charlie Comben has been performing well at VFL level so far this season and is a likely inclusion should he be declared fit after missing last week with a knee complaint. Should he be unable to prove his fitness, talented but untested Jacob Edwards looms as the final key forward option for the side.

Cam Zurhaar could step up and play a role as an undersized key forward - he certainly possesses the strength and ability to do so - or Jaidyn Stephenson could return to the forward role he played so successfully before crossing to Arden Street.

The selection question is set to be answered upon the team release on Thursday night, but as for the tactical question, we'll have to wait with bated breath until game time to see how that evolves.

Who's out for Fremantle?

Fremantle will enter this clash somewhat undermanned. Injury and health and safety protocols have ripped through its list over the last few weeks.

Star player Nat Fyfe and key forward Matt Taberner's absences from the team are set to continue due to back and hamstring injuries respectively, while Rory Lobb, Travis Colyer and Blake Acres will all miss their second straight game under health and safety protocols.

Griffin Logue, Lloyd Meek and Michael Frederick have all been added to the list of unavailabilities in recent days, also due to the protocols.

In better news for the Dockers though, Sean Darcy and Neil Erasmus are chances to return following concussions, while key defender Joel Hamling is also listed as a test. 

Jye Amiss is also set for his AFL debut. The key forward was recruited with the eighth pick of the 2021 NAB AFL Draft after impressing with 51 goals and just 15 behinds in his draft year, playing for East Perth Colts. He has nine goals in three games in the WAFL this season.

Fremantle will undoubtedly make the best of their injury situation by giving extra responsibility and experience to players who might not have otherwise received it.

David Noble has already praised the systems Dockers coach Justin Longmuir has implemented within his side, and it can't be forgotten that Fremantle currently sit third on the ladder.

Coupled with the continued absences of Fyfe and Taberner, the unavailability of Lobb and Acres has the potential to hurt Friday's opposition, but they certainly still contain the firepower to cause serious problems for the Kangaroos.

Can North register a repeat effort out west?

The Kangaroos will certainly have fond memories of their last visit to Perth. Last year's Round 17 victory over the West Coast Eagles will live long in the memories of North Melbourne fans who witnessed the clash.

While the opposition is different this weekend, North will surely take confidence into the clash following that win, in their ability to play Optus Stadium in the correct and most effective fashion.

The Roos defeated the Eagles by 10 points off the back of a career best performance from Jaidyn Stephenson, who finished the clash with 38 disposals and a goal.

The ground in Perth is one of the largest in the country, measuring 165 metres long and 141 metres wide. It is considerably larger than Marvel Stadium, which is 159.5 metres long and 128.8 metres wide.

David Noble has already alluded to last year's win as a key point of comparison for his side heading into this clash. How well the Kangaroos can adapt to the size and conditions in front of a raucous crowd could prove to be the difference in, hopefully, a tight and entertaining affair.

Will we get to taste Zurhaar's home cooking again?

The acquisition of Cam Zurhaar through the rookie draft is one of the best draft coups in recent memory. When on song, the East Fremantle product is one of the most exciting forwards the competition has to offer.

Zurhaar's love for returning to his home state to play in front of his family and friends has been documented, and Friday night presents the No. 44 with another opportunity.

That comfort of playing in his hometown has paid dividends for Zurhaar over his time in the AFL system. Although it's a small sample size, Zurhaar's performances at Optus Stadium outdo his career averages at every other ground in the country.

In the three career games he's played in Perth, Zurhaar has registered averages of 13.3 disposals and 1.7 goals, a marked increase on the 11.2 disposals and 1.2 goals per game in his other 67 career appearances.

His accuracy in front of goal could do with a tweak, having kicked eight behinds to go with those five goals in three games, but six of those behinds came in last year's Round 17 victory over West Coast.

Although he experienced a sluggish start in front of goal to open the 2022 campaign, Zurhaar's last few performances have indicated a return to top form. Could playing at one of his favourite grounds take him back to the level North fans know he's capable of reaching?