Coming off successive losses for the first time in more than 12 months, North will look to return to the winners list against the GWS Giants on Saturday.

It’s also the first time North has met the Giants in 2014, despite the weekend being inside the last month of the home and away season.

Teams

North Melbourne

B: Michael Firrito, Scott Thompson, Luke McDonald
HB: Shaun Atley, Lachlan Hansen, Sam Wright
C: Sam Gibson, Andrew Swallow, Levi Greenwood
HF: Nick Dal Santo, Aaron Black, Brent Harvey
F: Ben Brown, Drew Petrie, Lindsay Thomas
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Jack Ziebell
Int: Ryan Bastinac, Ben Jacobs, Leigh Adams, Kayne Turner

In: Ben Brown, Kayne Turner
Out: Majak Daw, Aaron Mullett

New: Kayne Turner

GWS Giants

B: Matt Buntine, Phil Davis, Heath Shaw
HB: Zac Williams, Lachie Plowman, Adam Kennedy
C: Toby Greene, Adam Treloar, Will Hoskin-Elliott
HF: Tomas Bugg, Adam Tomlinson, Tom Boyd
F: Devon Smith, Jon Patton, Jed Lamb
Fol:: Shane Mumford, Callan Ward, Rhys Palmer
Int: Joshua Kelly, Dylan Shiel, Tim Golds, Jono O’Rourke
Emer: Cam McCarthy, James Stewart, Mark Whiley

In: Matt Buntine, Jed Lamb
Out: Josh Hunt (hip), Sam Frost

Finals scenario

Any outside chance of a top four berth is all but gone for North. Instead it is battling to remain inside the eight. Heading into Round 20, the Roos sit sixth, ahead of Essendon, Collingwood and Gold Coast by percentage only.

However North will be favourites in all four of its games to finish off. In Round 20, Essendon will face Richmond in a tough game at the MCG, while Gold Coast and Collingwood have to travel interstate to face Carlton and West Coast respectively.

If North was to defeat the Giants and have results go its way, it could be a game and percentage clear with just three rounds to go; a good position to be in.

Previous history

North is yet to lose to the Giants in its three previous meetings. Each game has been played at a different venue – Blundstone Arena, Spotless Stadium and Etihad Stadium.

The Roos have scored more than 100 points in every game against the Giants, with a high of 183 in Round 2, 2012 at Blundstone. Perhaps the most noteworthy individual performance between the two sides was when Kieran Harper kicked four goals – after starting as the substitute.

Todd Goldstein v Shane Mumford

The battle in the ruck is likely to be the most important in Canberra. When the Giants have won, it has usually been due to a monster game from Mumford.

In their four wins this season, Mumford has averaged 49 hit-outs, 13.5 disposals and 7.5 tackles a game. Goldstein has also been uncharacteristically quiet in previous games against the Giants, often when he was matched up by Jonathan Giles.

However the North ruckman is coming off a good performance against Geelong, collecting 18 disposals and 30 hit-outs.

Interstate travel

After two consecutive interstate losses, North rebounded with a win over St Kilda at Blundstone in Round 17.

Travelling has been a much improved part of the side’s game, owning a 4-2 record outside Victoria. With Round 20 and Round 22 still to be played interstate, North could end with six wins for the season - an impressive effort.

However GWS has played well in recent times at StarTrack Oval. In Round 7 it came up against a rampant Port Adelaide outfit but pushed it all the way to the end and the 35-point margin was not quite a fair reflection of the flow in general play.

It also led the Western Bulldogs at three quarter time and looked on course to win before it faded away late.