WHO: North Melbourne v GWS Giants
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Saturday, August 27, 7.25pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Broadcast guide
TICKETS: Purchase tickets

THE LAST FIVE

R12, 2015, North Melbourne 18.9 (117) d GWS Giants 8.13 (61) at Spotless Stadium
R20, 2014, North Melbourne 19.12 (126) d GWS Giants 7.9 (51) at Manuka Oval
R14, 2013, North Melbourne 19.16 (130) d GWS Giants 6.8 (44) at Etihad Stadium
R23, 2012, North Melbourne 16.9 (105) d GWS Giants 11.11 (77) at Spotless Stadium
R2, 2012, North Melbourne 28.15 (183) d GWS Giants 8.6 (54) at Blundstone Arena

SUMMARY (AFL.COM.AU)

Greater Western Sydney has never beaten North Melbourne and there's no better time for the Giants to overcome the Kangaroos than in round 23, but both sides have plenty at stake.

The Giants could still secure a top-four spot if they win and Adelaide, Geelong or Hawthorn lose, while a home elimination final is the least Leon Cameron's men will believe they deserve after a coming-of-age season.

North Melbourne has avoided the potentially nerve-jangling scenario of needing to win to keep hold of eighth spot after Melbourne's shock defeat to Carlton, but the Roos want to keep building momentum from improved showings in recent weeks and could yet avoid travelling interstate – and likely for a rematch with the Giants - in week one of finals with victory on Saturday night.

Shaun Higgins' polish will be vital in the forward line.

THE HEADLINES

ET: 'Full steam ahead'
Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron has declared his team's finals campaign begins this week against North… MORE

Roos looking up
Vice-captain Jack Ziebell says North will have gained confidence from its performance against Sydney, despite falling by nine points… MORE

Opposing Threat: GWS
The fast track at Etihad Stadium seems to suit the Giants, who have won five of their last seven matches at the venue… MORE

TEAMS

North Melbourne

Backs L.McDonald 21 M.Firrito 11 S.Atley 18
Half Backs J.Macmillan 34 R.Tarrant 25 N.Dal Santo 15
Centreline S.Gibson 43 J.Ziebell 7 D.Wells 8
Half Forwards S.Higgins 4 B.Brown 50 L.Hansen 6
Forwards L.Thomas 12 D.Petrie 20 B.Harvey 29
Followers T.Goldstein 22 B.Cunnington 10 A.Swallow 9
Interchange J.Anderson 3 T.Dumont 14 A.Mullett 17 M.Daw 38
Emergencies R.Clarke 13 J.Tippett 36 C.Wagner 41

In: S.Higgins, L.McDonald
Out: S.Thompson (Adductor), B.McKenzie (Omitted)

Greater Western Sydney

Backs N.Wilson 16 P.Davis 1 Z.Williams 29
Half Backs R.Griffen 32 N.Haynes 19 H.Shaw 23
Centreline A.Tomlinson 20 D.Shiel 5 J.Kelly 22
Half Forwards J.Hopper 2 J.Patton 12 D.Smith 10
Forwards S.Johnson 17 R.Lobb 37 J.Cameron 18
Followers S.Mumford 41 C.Ward 8 T.Scully 9
Interchange T.Greene 4 L.Whitfield 6 S.Coniglio 3 J.Patfull 24
Emergencies J.Steele 11 J.Stewart 36 A.Kennedy 40

Unchanged

Luke McDonald is back into the North side for the first time since Round 13.

THE PLAYER SAID - JACK ZIEBELL

“They are a really good side, GWS. We are going to have our hands full and it’s going to be a great test of where we are at.

“We want to win every game and we want to hopefully hit September in winning form and make sure we get off to a good start.”

THE OPPOSITION SAID - LEON CAMERON

"It'll be full steam ahead, there'll be no holding back from our end (despite finals coming).

"We know any side that's capable of winning nine in a row is a very good side, and they've (the Kangaroos) had their injury concerns … but I'm sure they'll attack it 100 per cent as well."

THE FIVE STATS (AFL.com.au)

1. The Kangaroos set up their victory over the Giants the last time they played with a dominant 10-goal-to-four first half. Todd Goldstein won a record 80 hit-outs.

2. The Giants hold a clear advantage over the Kangaroos for inside 50s and scoring. GWS is ranked first for inside 50s, ahead of the Kangaroos in 10th, and are second in scoring while North is ninth.

3. North is yet to lose to the Giants in five meetings. The closest the Giants have been was a 28-point loss in round 23, 2012.

4. The Giants will be aiming for their third win from as many games at Etihad Stadium in 2016 and have won five of their last seven under the roof. North has won eight of 12 Etihad games this season.

5. No team has won more quarters of football than the Giants this season (59 including 14 final quarters). North is 8th after winning 44 quarters, including 11 fourth terms.

Todd Goldstein was dominant when the teams last met.

THE BURNING QUESTIONS

Can Patton be stopped?
After bagging a career-high six goals against Fremantle last round, GWS key-forward Jonathon Patton has developed into a dangerous player since overcoming his second knee reconstruction.

The 23-year-old's big bag surpassed his previous best tally of three goals, which he's recorded on four occasions over his 52 games.

Add fellow talls Jeremy Cameron and Rory Lobb to the mix and the Giants' imposing forward line will be a tough task to stop but the perfect test for North's defensive unit that will be without backman Scott Thompson (groin).

Can 'Goldy' repeat last year's dominance?
When both sides last met in round 12, 2015, Roos ruckman Todd Goldstein amassed 80 hit-outs with 27 of those to advantage, against Rory Lobb.

The Roos' midfielders became the beneficiaries of Goldstein's brilliance at the centre bounces and stoppages, taking full advantage of Shane Mumford's absence with an ankle injury.

This weekend's battle at Etihad Stadium will be a different beast altogether, with Goldstein having to contend with the Giants' 148-game veteran in Mumford and Lobb as a back-up option. It's a match-up to watch closely.

Will North and GWS meet again?
Should the fifth-placed Giants win and the favourites/teams above them on the ladder all get up, the Roos will face GWS again in a fortnight – after the round 23 bye – in a cut-throat elimination final at Spotless Stadium.

The Giants could miss out on hosting a final and finish as low as seventh if they lose to North and the Western Bulldogs and West Coast both win.

They could also sneak into the top four if other results go their way, so only time will tell on this one. Win or lose, the Roos will end the regular season in eighth position.

Jonathon Patton looms as a dangerous matchup for North's defenders.