According to Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade, Saturday’s clash will be decided in the midfield.

For the Suns, the losses of Steven May and Rory Thompson leave them slightly undermanned in defence.

With that in mind, the battles further up the field become even more crucial.

“It’s really got to be won in the midfield,” Eade said on Friday.

“I know we say that every week but we have to deny them access.”

There are multiple ways to do so, as Eade explained.

“We’ve got to try and help our defence by either stopping the ball getting there or putting some pressure on when they do kick it in.

“They’re very efficient once they do get it inside 50. We have to minimise that by putting pressure on at the source.”

With North Melbourne in good form and the only undefeated side in the league, Gold Coast is preparing for a challenging encounter.

“They’ve improved as a team from last year, they’re playing some really good footy.

“We’re under no illusions to how tough the task will be.

Despite the Suns having defeated North three times in a row, it’s essentially irrelevant according to Eade.

“I don’t think history really changes what you’re going to do on the night.

“We’ve just got to bring our effort that we didn’t bring last week.