Director of Football Geoff Walsh is confident North Melbourne’s players are ready to atone for a disappointing round one performance.

Walsh has been pleased with the Kangaroos’ approach on the track this week, and says the team's preparation couldn't have been better.

“I think quite wisely (Brad) Scotty’s recognised that the players themselves wanted to drive this week,” Walsh said on AFL.com.au’s The Bounce.

“Certainly he’s set some parameters at the start of the week in our review and highlighted the areas we let ourselves down, and from there on the guys have really driven the week themselves.

“They are keen to get a crack at it on Sunday, so they can go out and perform like we know and like they will for the majority of the year.”

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Walsh reiterated Scott’s comments from earlier in the week, pointing out that talk of redemption following a big loss means very little unless the team performs on Sunday.

“You can say all you like and you can beat your chest and say ‘that’s not really our form and that’s an aberration’, but until you go out there and actually prove it in the field of battle, which I know the players are dying to do, it’s just words.”

While North made just one omission on Thursday to the side that lost to Adelaide, Walsh hinted further changes may be on the cards.

“Because of the Sunday game you announce an extended squad – we’ll trim that up today (Friday) again after having a look.

“The extended squad is a legacy of playing on Sunday, so I wouldn’t be reading too much into that.”

Questioned whether North had topped up searching for a premiership, Walsh explained the club’s mindset in recruiting the likes of Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite.

“Rather than top up, we’ve taken our first three draft choices for the last eight years, so we’ve built through the draft and the majority of those 24 players, about 19 or 20 or so are still on the list,” he said.

“The acquisition of Jarrad Waite allows the key-position players we drafted in Sam Durdin and Daniel Nielson some time to develop, so they are not thrown to the wolves straight away.”