Shaun Higgins is ready and raring to go for Sunday afternoon’s clash against Carlton, having overcome a virus.
The Roos’ number four missed the game against Port Adelaide after coming down ill on game day, but is “feeling good” ahead of Round 7.
“(It was a) light day today, but we’ve got an extended break this week and I’ll look to build up in the coming days and have main training later in the week,” Higgins told the media.
“I think it was just a virus that came on, but I’m feeling better now, which is the main thing.
“The state that I was in when the teams were handed in (on Friday), there was no way that I could play.”
Higgins spent the game in hospital, but did manage to watch from his bed.
“The positives were that we fought it out and we stayed in the game in a hostile environment, against a team that’s one of the in-form teams in the competition.
“The boys showed tremendous fight to get back into it … there’s still plenty of areas that we need to work on and address, and we’re going to work on that.”
The midfielder will be a valuable addition as North takes on the Blues, a team which like the Roos, has just the one win, but has been ultra-competitive.
Higgins said the Roos must start the game with ferocity.
"We know that our pressure is not where it needs to be," he said.
"We were the best pressure side in the competition at the start of last year, so we know what that looks like."
The two-time Syd Barker Medal winner is confident North can improve its current ladder position.
"I know it can turn quickly," Higgins said.
"I also know you're never going as well as you are, especially when we were 9-0 a couple of years ago (2016).
"You're never going as poorly as you are - we were 0-5 (in 2017) ... and still got a lot out of that season.
"But you don't get caught up in what the next month will look like - we need to worry about what this week looks like and what happens on Sunday."
Higgins said he wasn’t concerned about external noise.
"It doesn't bother me - criticism will come when you're on the bottom of the ladder," he added.
"I will continue to listen to what the coaches tell me, rather than people who watch bits and pieces of the footy."
