North Melbourne is expecting a big crowd when it takes on the Bulldogs in a top of the table clash on Friday night.

CEO Carl Dilena wants fans of both clubs to turn up in droves and send a strong message to the AFL.

"We'd really love to get 40 [thousand] plus," Dilena told The Age.

"It's prime time, Friday night, [and the] Doggies are up and about.

"I think it's really positive that we've got two Victorian clubs with the chance to play a real blockbuster. It's a real opportunity for us to make a bold statement to the AFL that we can do blockbusters just as well as anyone else in the competition.

"I think that's very important for both clubs in terms of fixturing going forward."

North is undefeated after the first five rounds, while the Dogs have only lost once. The biggest crowd the sides have attracted at Etihad Stadium has been 37,299, set in Round 22 last year.

Dilena wants to eclipse that figure this week.

"It's huge at the moment. It's great to be sitting five and zip.

"I was hopeful of a very strong start, because we've got a tough fixture, probably one of the toughest fixtures in the league this year, so it was very important that we got off to a good start."

Dilena urged the club's almost 8,000 lapsed members to re-sign.

"With North sitting five and zip and on top of the ladder, what are you waiting for?"

Fans are urged to buy their tickets early and take advantage of the best seats and cheapest offers.