Win and North stays in touch with the top four. Lose and there’s a danger of slipping as low as ninth.

The importance of Sunday’s game is huge.

It’s the second of a three-week run of away games and while many would have marked this game down for four points at the start of year, the Demons’ good form means it’s now a danger game.

Squads

North Melbourne

Backs L.McDonald 21 S.Thompson 16 L.Hansen 6
Half Backs S.Atley 18 M.Firrito 11 A.Mullett 41
Centreline S.Gibson 43 A.Swallow 9 L.Greenwood 24
Half Forwards N.Dal Santo 15 R.Tarrant 25 B.Harvey 29
Forwards A.Black 35 D.Petrie 20 L.Thomas 12
Followers T.Goldstein 22 J.Ziebell 7 B.Cunnington 10
Interchange From B.McKenzie 2 R.Bastinac 3 L.Anthony 4 L.Adams 13 T.Dumont 14 R.Nahas 28 B.Brown 50

IN: Dumont, McKenzie, Brown
OUT: Nil

Melbourne

Backs Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta
Half Backs Jeremy Howe, Tom McDonald, Jack Grimes
Centreline Bernie Vince, Jack Viney, Daniel Cross
Half Forwards Rohan Bail, James Frawley, Cam Pedersen
Forwards Dean Kent, Chris Dawes, Jack Watts
Followers Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson
Interchange From Aidan Riley, Christian Salem, Jordie McKenzie, Matt Jones, Dean Terlich, Sam Blease, Daniel Nicholson

IN: Dean Terlich, Sam Blease, Daniel Nicholson
OUT: Nil

Consistently inconsistent
The difference between North’s best and worst has been significant and another below-par performance could see it on the end of an upset at the MCG.

Saturday night’s loss to the Crows was the Kangaroos’ first interstate defeat this year, but it’s surprisingly in Melbourne where they’ve struggled.  The Demons haven’t won back-to-back games since 2011, so they’ll be aiming to break that streak following a victory against Essendon.

Defensive battle
Both teams have been terrific defensively, conceding the fourth and fifth most inside 50’s respectively, but keeping their opposition to the ninth and third least goals.

“Either the opposition just miss a lot, which I suspect there’s more to it than that, or Melbourne and forcing the opposition wide and forcing them into really tough, rushed shots at goal,” Brad Scott said on Thursday.

“We’ll have to be really smart with our ball use going forward. Lynden Dunn is in career-best form, they’ve got (Tom) McDonald, (Colin) Garland, they’ve got a lot of really good defenders.

“We are scoring really well from our inside 50’s as well, so it’s going to be a real battle on that front.”

Ball-winners
In this week’s Scouting Report, NMFC.com.au highlighted the significance of Melbourne’s off-season recruits Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson and Daniel Cross.

Despite the improvement of the midfield group, the Demons sit last for clearances across the competition.

While Todd Goldstein is winning the tap-outs, North has had troubles of its own, 12th for clearances and 17th for first possession out of the middle, an area Melbourne ranks last in.

A relative weakness for both sides statistically, it’s going to be a vital tussle at the coal-face.

The MCG factor
North doesn’t get to play on the wide expanses of the MCG often. Sunday’s clash will be just its fourth at the venue over the past two seasons.

The Magpies’ superior work-rate caught the Kangaroos out in Round 5 and a similar effort will see them on the back-foot.

Melbourne has played on the home of football on eight occasions already this season for three wins.

While the away team boasts an 11-game winning streak against the Demons, just one match between the teams since 2009 has been played at the ‘G.

Last time
North saluted by a massive 122 points when the teams last met in Round 18 last year. How things have changed since.

Just 13 of the Demons’ side on that day are likely to take the field on Sunday, while the Kangaroos will field as many as 17 from that game.

Daniel Wells, Nathan Grima and Jamie Macmillan are among those missing, but into the mix come Nick Dal Santo and Michael Firrito among others.

The 122-point loss was Melbourne’s second-worst of last season and came in the middle of a nine-game losing streak. Eight players had less than 10 disposals. Last week that number was just three.

Expect a better showing this time around.