Wins away from from home in recent weeks have been impressive, but a convincing loss in-between makes the Kangaroos’ form unpredictable.
“I suppose what we are looking for is a consistency thing. You saw our ability against Port Adelaide and Sydney and then there was the drop away against Collingwood, which was very disappointing,” Gibson told The Herald Sun’s Glenn McFarlane.
“We feel from a talent point of view and a game plan point of view, everything is in place for us to succeed.
“It is up to us ... to make sure the difference between our best and our worst is a lot smaller than it has been in the past.”
North is in fifth place after six rounds. A win against the Suns would make the win-loss record 5-2, the club’s best start to a season since 2005.
Gibson believes the Kangaroos’ fitness makes them a formidable force when firing.
“We think our best is pretty good and we rate ourselves to finish off games.
“We think we are as fit as we have ever been. So we know that if we are in games towards the end of them, then we can run over the top of teams.
“Port Adelaide was probably our biggest test in that regard because it has been well documented how well they finish games and how well they run.
“To be able to overrun a team that was the benchmark of the early part of the season (in Round 3) has reaffirmed in our minds of where we are at as a side.”
That reliance on run late in games suits Gibson to a tee; his 31-disposal performance against the Dockers included 14 in the last quarter alone.
“I haven’t had the rigours of big AFL pre-seasons for very long. I’ve only done three or four,” he added.
“While I am (almost) 27, I still see myself as a fairly new player with a lot of scope for improvement. I feel as good as I have ever felt.
“I certainly don’t feel as if I am slowing down, but I do know I have to keep putting the work in and keep improving.”
