With the result of Saturday’s NAB Challenge opener not of critical importance, the focus will be on new faces, new places and everything in between. NMFC.com.au looks at five things to look out for at Eureka Stadium on Saturday.

1. Daniel Currie

While Currie impressed in 2013’s NAB Cup, it was often as the sole ruckman without Todd Goldstein in the side.

Currie has been extremely impressive throughout the summer rotating through the ruck and playing forward. It appears that is his best way in the side and Saturday will be the first glimpse at whether it’s a sustainable plan.

2. Shaun Atley in the midfield

A common item on fans’ wish list is to see Atley spending more time through the midfield. The number 18 recently told the Herald Sun he had been preparing for the move over the summer.

“I’ve done most of the pre-season with the midfielders and I feel comfortable in there, but it’s up to the coaches in the end where they want to play me.

“I will trial and have a go in the midfield for the NAB Cup hopefully and then see how I go.”

Atley’s speed and ball use could strengthen a midfield which has already added extra rotations through the off-season.

3. New faces

Of the seven new faces who arrived at Arden Street through the draft and free agency, four are set to play on Saturday.

Nick Dal Santo, Luke McDonald, Robin Nahas, Joel Tippett have all been named in the 29-man squad and should receive their fair share of game-time.

Tippett in particular, may spend time against either Jarrad Waite or Levi Casboult in a challenging test for his first outing in the blue and white.

4. New coaches

The addition of Leigh Tudor and Gavin Brown were much hyped at the time, and Saturday will be the first chance to see how they have affected the playing group.

While Brown’s (and Ben Dyer’s) influence will be seen more in the development of the younger players, Tudor has been working largely with the midfield and moulding the structures. A weakness in 2013 was the opposition’s ability to get a significant run-on through the middle, and resulted in a couple of the close losses.

5. Interchange cap

The cap for Saturday will be set at 130, 10 higher than the 120 implemented for the regular season. However with six players on the bench compared to the normal three, it will be just as tough to juggle rotations.

It’ll be the first time North has the cap to think about in a game situation. During 2013 it averaged 123 interchanges per game.

Squads

North Melbourne
1. Daniel Currie, 2. Brad McKenzie, 3. Ryan Bastinac, 4. Liam Anthony, 5. Ben Jacobs, 6. Lachlan Hansen, 7. Jack Ziebell, 8. Daniel Wells, 10.Ben Cunnington. 11. Michael Firrito, 12. Lindsay Thomas, 15. Nick Dal Santo, 16. Scott Thompson, 18. Shaun Atley, 19. Sam Wright, 20. Drew Petrie, 21. Luke McDonald, 22. Todd Goldstein, 26. Taylor Hine, 28. Robin Nahas, 29. Brent Harvey, 32. Mason Wood, 33. Mitch Wilkins, 34. Jamie Macmillan, 35. Aaron Black, 36, Joel Tippett, 42. Scott McMahon, 43. Sam Gibson, 44. Max Warren

Carlton
1. Andrew Walker, 2. Troy Menzel, 3. Marc Murphy, 4. Bryce Gibbs, 7. Dylan Buckley, 9, Kane Lucas, 10. Matthew Watson, 11. Rob Warnock, 12. Mitch Robinson, 13. Chris Yarran, 14. Brock McLean, 16. Patrick Cripps, 17. Sam Rowe, 18. Tom Temay, 21. Josh Bootsma, 26. Andrew McInnes, 27. Dennis Armfield, 28. Tom Bell, 30. Jarrad Waite, 31. Luke Reynolds, 32. Nick Graham, 33. Andrejs Everitt, 35. Ed Curnow. 36. Cameron Wood, 37. Jaryd Cachia, 41. Levi Casboult, 42. Zach Tuohy, 45. Blaine Johnson, 46. David Ellard