Excitement is building for North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos' sixth season in the AFLW competition, with Round 1 rapidly approaching.

Darren Crocker's group will play the Bulldogs in their second and final pre-season game on Saturday as they prime themselves to go one better than last year's preliminary final and target a Grand Final with a new-look line-up in 2023.

As the countdown to Round 1 continues, NMFC Media will preview the season ahead, touching on the club's leaders, players to watch, those who will wear the royal blue and white stripes for the first time, and the games that will shape the Kangaroos' season.

Round 1 v St Kilda

Sunday, September 3, 1.05pm AEST at Blundstone Arena

The Kangaroos will target a fast start as they launch their premiership campaign against the Saints in Tasmania's Hobart, a city and state in which they are yet to be defeated.

The clubs have met just once since St Kilda entered the competition back in 2020, with North Melbourne triumphing by 26 points under the leadership of Emma Kearney and Ash Riddell at Arden Street Oval in Round 2, 2021.

It was Kate Shierlaw who led the Saints on that day, but this year the key forward, along with defender Lucy Burke, will don the royal blue and white as they face off against former teammates.

Round 3 v Geelong

Friday, September 15, 5.05pm AEST at GMHBA Stadium

The Cats will be out for revenge after North Melbourne knocked them out of the 2022 Season 7 finals series in a thrilling elimination final tussle at the same venue.

It was the second time that season the Roos had edged out Geelong, with the Round 4 meeting in Launceston also going the way of Crocker's side.

There will be plenty of feeling down in Geelong as North Melbourne looks to protect its undefeated run against those in hoops.

Round 4 v Brisbane Lions

Sunday, September 24, 1.05pm AEST at UTAS Stadium

Before they take on reigning premier Melbourne in Round 8, the Kangaroos will test themselves against last season's other Grand Finalist, Brisbane.

Like the Kangaroos, Brisbane has seen significant roster changes leading into 2023, with Emily Bates (Hawthorn), Greta Bodey (Hawthorn), Jesse Wardlaw (St Kilda) and Lulu Pullar (North Melbourne) all departing Queensland.

The Lions snuck away from Arden Street Oval with the four points when the clubs met last year; a result North Melbourne will be keen to rectify in Launceston.

Round 6 v Fremantle

Sunday, October 8, 5.05pm AEDT at Fremantle Community Bank Oval

It's been quite the back and forth between the Kangaroos and Dockers since the Roos entered the league in 2019.

Round 6 will see North Melbourne challenge Fremantle at Fremantle Oval for the first time since Round 7, 2019 when the purple haze managed to deny the visitors a spot in the finals series.

The next two clashes belonged to the Roos, with one-point and 10-point victories coming in Round 9, 2021 and Round 5, 2022 Season 6 respectively.

However, the most significant result of the clubs' head-to-head history was picked up by the Dockers in a 2022 Season 6 knockout qualifying final last year - an outcome North Melbourne is yet to have a chance to respond to.

Round 8 v Melbourne

Saturday, October 21, 7.15pm AEDT at Ikon Park

Circled in red marker when the schedule dropped in July, Round 8's heavily anticipated battle with the Demons is a match the Kangaroos will be already eyeballing.

It was eventual premiers Melbourne who ended North Melbourne's campaign in 2022 Season 7, in a tightly contested preliminary final that remained in the balance until the fourth quarter's final stages.

Not only will the Kangaroos be out for prelim payback when the teams meet at Ikon Park, they'll be looking to end their five-game skid against the Demons.