IT TOOK until round 14 of last year for North Melbourne midfielder Sam Power to recognise that he was a required player at his new club.

Joining North in a trade from the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2007, Power hadn't skipped a beat in his preparations and won his place in the side for the first 12 games.

It was a reasonable indication that the coaches rated him, however, there were bigger-picture concerns for the Roos with six losses and a draw coming in the first half of the season.

Power had a number of teammates playing below their best and part of him may have wondered whether he was fulfilling expectations or just blending in.

A minor groin strain surfaced after the 53-point hiding from Fremantle, forcing Power to sit out the next clash with Hawthorn – and leaving him uncertain as to how soon he'd earn a recall once he shook the niggle.

"It was then that I realised I was able to play a role and the coaching staff and those around the club saw me as an important part of the team," he said, selected after North stunned the Hawks by 27 points. "Coming straight back into the side after injury gave me the confidence I could be an important player.

"It was touch and go to miss the game but in hindsight it was the right thing because I haven't had any problems since."

Confidence generated Power's best football too, thriving in the side's six-game winning streak from round 15, and his courage earned further kudos from coach Dean Laidley when he returned from a sickening collision to play out the loss to Geelong.

The 25-year-old is among the pack leaders in the heavy endurance running that has held centre stage at Arden Street for the last eight weeks.

Modestly, Power says the blocks of successive 100m run-throughs haven't suited him as much as distance work but have helped address the shortcomings identified in some of his performances.

His tally of 22 games was more than he played in any season with the Bulldogs – he reached 19 in 2003 and 2006 – and though his fitness has improved again, Power knows he needs more in reserve to have an edge over his opponents.

"My ability to recover and produce more top-end efforts has probably increased a bit," he said. "That's the way the game's going and what individuals have to strive for.

"It's something I've realised playing a few run-with roles at various stages of the last couple of years. I've probably learned from the top players how they play and how they work in bursts. It's not necessarily the amount they cover but how explosive they are off the mark."

Power's also put some extra work into building strength through his hips and legs, with a view to better lock down his man or break away from stoppages when he wins the ball himself.

"I love the challenge of playing on the good players but my strength's still more my ability to link up [in attack]," he said. "I just need to get the right balance between being able to win the ball and also stop the opposition's key players if that's what's needed.

"Last year being new to the club there probably wasn't massive expectation on me but now I know what standards I have to reach."