Shaun Higgins says he is relishing playing in a similar attacking role that he performed for much of his early AFL career.

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The 27-year-old has enjoyed a solid return to form since joining North in last year’s free agency period, kicking seven goals and averaging 20 disposals in his four matches so far this season.

“I’m back up forward and playing that high half-forward which I played (for) the majority of my career early days at the (Western) Bulldogs,” Higgins told RSN on Tuesday.

“As long as I can keep playing that role and doing what the players and coaches want, that’s all that’s needed.”

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Higgins said he relies on his competitiveness to complement his ability to drift further up the ground.

“Work-rate is the number one focus for me going into a game and then it’s the ability to get back and contribute defensively as well as when we turn the footy over, try and get it back into our forward line,” he said.

“Sometimes that’s easier said than done; you definitely don’t value your game on kicks and handballs because … you can be caught in between.

“But if my work-rate’s up then I’m confident I can get up and down the ground.”

Higgins said adapting to North’s preferred style of play after his 129 games for the Bulldogs had been a work in progress.

“From an outsider, it probably doesn’t look (like) much, but when you do something for nine years it just takes a little bit of time to get used to,” he said.