An invigorated North Melbourne will look claim a major scalp on Sunday when it faces off with Collingwood at Marvel Stadium.

A dramatic, late interchange infringement ultimately saw the Kangaroos agonisingly pipped by the Swans in Round 10, but the performance was a stirring one after giving up three of the game's first four goals.

The Pies are a different story though and it's going to take North Melbourne's very best from start to finish if they are to knock off a flag favourite.

The opposition

Sitting a game clear on top of the ladder heading into the second of two Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds, Collingwood is flying high having lost just one game for the season so far (Round 4 v Brisbane).

With a direct and free-flowing game style, the Pies pose as a difficult challenge for a relatively young Roos outfit still familiarising themselves with the set-ups and structures that came with the signing of senior coach Alastair Clarkson.

Collingwood will enter Marvel Stadium on a six-game win streak and with its captain, Darcy Moore, in fine form. The 27-year-old finished the 28-point win over Carlton with 25 disposals, 16 intercept possessions, 11 marks and four tackles.

Steele Sidebottom's 300-game milestone is also expected to further motivate Craig McRae's side, with the veteran set to become the fourth player in the club's history to achieve the feat.

What the coaches have said

North Melbourne interim senior coach Brett Ratten post-game v Sydney: "I thought outside of the first 12 minutes of the game that we were really strong and that's the way we want to play footy as a club. Contested ball was about even, we were +20 in clearances, +12 in tackles and the pressure factor was really high so that allowed us to get back into the game. As a coaching group with Todd (Viney) and Cam Matthews, we were really proud with how they (the players) went about it."

Collingwood senior coach Craig McRae post-game v Carlton: "I think we do that (show speed early) most weeks. We're a fast-starting team, I think the Crows were the No.1 starting team in the competition for first quarters and we've had a similar record over the season, so we always want to hit the ground running. This group is hard to stop when they move the ball fast."

Running hot

Bailey Scott made a statement against the Swans and will look to build on what was undoubtedly his best performance of the season so far and arguably the most outstanding of his young career.

In an expert display down the Marvel Stadium wings, the 22-year-old gathered career-highs in disposals (33), clearances (seven) and inside 50s (12), while also contributing a game-high in metres gained (821) and a goal to cap things off.

The Kangaroos will be hoping to get a similar output or one close to it from Scott on Sunday, as they set out to combat a Collingwood midfield with plenty of depth inside and outside the contest.

Last time we met

Collingwood 13.10 (88) def. North Melbourne 12.9 (81) – Round 17, 2022 at the MCG

In what was the side's best performance up until that point of the season, the Kangaroos almost shocked the Pies at the MCG in Round 17 last year.

North Melbourne led the home side at every change on the day but succumbed to the pressure in the last quarter as Collingwood kicked five-straight majors to claim a seven-point victory.

Midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke amassed video game numbers in a sensational individual performance, finishing with 33 disposals, 14 inside 50s, 12 clearances and 11 tackles, while Jy Simpkin gathered 31 touches of his own.

Key position pillars Nick Larkey and Ben McKay were also influential, kicking five goals and snatching 11 intercepts respectively.