“He’s fit and ready to go.”

Those were the words from Darren Crocker that will bring a smile to the faces of North supporters Australia-wide.

It was the final training run for Daniel Wells and he got through with flying colours at Leederville Oval in Perth on Saturday. While there were many moments that brought about cheers from an appreciative crowd, the number eight’s pick-up out of a pack and subsequent snap goal from an impossible angle was signature Wells.

“He’s completed another training session. He’s had two weeks where he’s basically done everything we’ve asked of him and he’s fit and ready to go,” Crocker told the media after the session.

Wells was also quizzed when he emerged from the change rooms and headed for the bus.

“I’m fine and good to go. I’ve been training for the past two-weeks and everything feels good.”

The good news was almost overshadowed when Andrew Swallow left the field with what looked like a leg injury, but the Kangaroos’ assistant coach quickly allayed fears.

“He’s alright. He just got a little kick to the shin in a centre bounce drill so no issues there whatsoever,” Crocker said.

Going into Sunday’s match as the underdog isn’t a concern, with the players and coaches confident of proving the naysayers wrong.

“People can keep looking at reasons why we are going to get beaten over here. The weather, not being able to get onto Subiaco for training, but we are only concerned about reasons why we are going to win,” Crocker added.

“We’ve got a really fit group who are really ready for this finals series.”

The Kangaroos are also conscious of making the most of a rare opportunity to play finals; their first appearance in four years.

“I think every team goes into every season wanting to play finals football. We’ve done that, but we’re not just here to make up the numbers, we see this as a great opportunity.

“It’s obviously going to be a challenge, West Coast is a great opposition, but we see this as a great opportunity to put our best football on show, and we really believe that our best football is capable of getting over the Eagles tomorrow.”

Despite having belief in its own ability, North Melbourne can’t underestimate its opponent, especially after falling short in two fixtures this season.

“In the past it’s been one of those talls that has always gotten out of the loop and hurt us. If they’ve looked at the past few games against us they’re probably thinking that they can stretch us.

“Our back-line has been really steady this year. Nathan Grima coming back, Scott Thompson, Michael Firrito can play taller than what his height suggests. We think we can cover that. If need be, if one of them is really hurting us we also know that we’ve got the talls at the other end that can play as swingmen in Lachie Hansen and Robbie Tarrant.”

The battle in the ruck will also be pivotal, particularly after Dean Cox almost single-handedly dragged his side over the line in Round 15 with a dominant final quarter performance.

“In the first half down in Hobart Todd Goldstein performed really well. He obviously got tired in the second half and Cox got hold off us, but Goldy’s other than the last couple of weeks had been in really good form in the back half of the year, and with support from Drewy (Petrie) we think we can take away those big guys’ influence.”