Forward Jarrad Waite will enter Saturday night's clash against Carlton with less pre-game jitters than he experienced last season against his former club.
The 33-year-old will this week line up against his ex-team for the second time since joining North as an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2014.
Waite's first outing against the Blues in round 18 last year coincidentally marked his 200th game, ending the milestone match with two goals in the 64-point win.
Despite his 13-year, 184-game association with the Blues, Waite said this weekend's encounter would have no extra significance.
"I'm feeling pretty natural this week, obviously the first time was always going to be the most nerve-racking," Waite told NMFC.com.au on Wednesday.
"It's more about trying to get another win for the club and the personal stuff goes out the window."
Waite has reinvented his game since crossing from the Blues, with his forward-half pressure acts taking centre stage.
Champion Data statistics show the 194cm goalkicker leading his peers in pressure acts (10.8 per game), followed by fellow Roo Drew Petrie and Hawk Jack Gunston (9.6 each).
Waite is also ranked No.1 among the competition's key forwards in both tackles (4.5 per game) and score assists (2.0).
"It's the cornerstone of my game at the moment," Waite said of his defensive pressure acts.
"If you're not taking your marks, you can tackle, lay a shepherd … and I've just felt that it's really helped my football and gets me into the game early."
Waite's goalkicking conversion has also improved considerably since joining the Roos.
In the corresponding round last year, Waite was still finding his feet at Arden Street and had managed eight goals in as many weeks.
The all-round key forward has already netted 25 majors this season leading into round nine.
Waite said his slow start last year was in part due to the time needed to build an on-field chemistry with his teammates up forward.
"When we first started pre-season (in late 2014/early 2015) there wasn't too many boys training, so (I) didn't really get the synergy with anyone during training," Waite said.
"It probably took a good eight or nine rounds for that to all click.
"Ever since that moment, it's been really good (and) we haven't had too many games where we've got in each other's way."
The Blues, who are aiming for their fifth successive win this week, are a vastly different team under first-year coach Brendon Bolton, and that is reflected in their performances.
Waite and his Roos will have to contend with a more organised backline under Bolton, with the Blues conceding fewer points from turnovers and stoppages.
Carlton was last year ranked 17th in the league for opposition scores per inside 50 entries (49.8 per cent), but is now ranked fifth in this stat (45.6) after round eight.
The Blues have also restricted opposition marks inside 50, ranking last in the competition last season (14.6 per game) to now sitting fifth (10.6).
"They've got some really good structures in place and they're ranked pretty highly for a few key stats," Waite said.
"They've got a lot of energy and enthusiasm at the moment and they're playing good footy.
"We know if we have a lapse like we did in the second half against Essendon then it'll be a different story."
