Drawing confidence from his best-on-ground performance against Port Adelaide, Ben Cunnington can't wait to take on Sydney at the SCG.

Speaking to The Age's Peter Hanlon, the midfielder is keenly looking forward to North's first interstate trip of the season.

"We have to take it to another level. Especially against Sydney - they pride themselves on the contested ball and stoppages. It's going to be a huge test for us, and we're up for the challenge just to see where we're at as a team. To go up there, we can't wait for the challenge."

Cunnington will also bump into a familiar face with the number 10 and Sydney's Gary Rohan attending Prep together at Timboon Primary School.

They played in the junior ranks, from representative teams to Cobden and Cunnington hopes their second match against each other will end better for Rohan than the first.

"I was on the bench when it happened, saw him go down. Obviously the play went on, but just watching him he looked in a bad way," Cunnington said of Rohan's horrific broken leg. "Everyone's throat's sort of in their mouth, you don't wish that upon anyone - not in footy, not in anything. It was just a sad time for him and his family."

While Rohan spent time on the sidelines, Cunnington established himself as a vital part of North's midfield, to the point where Brent Harvey labelled him a crucial part of the side's midfield for the next decade.

"We've seen glimpses over the last two years of what Cunners can achieve; once he puts a bit of consistency to that he'll be a very, very good player,'' Harvey said.

"He's an exceptional young man as well, works very hard, and it's great to see him reap the rewards from a great game on the weekend."

Heading into the game against Sydney, the club is aware the Swans remain the only team North hasn't beat in Brad Scott's time as coach.

However, the win against Port is the best possible preparation for the game according to Cunnington.

"Boomer [Harvey] said after the game everyone played their role, there were no tag-alongs," Cunnington said. "That's what made it such a great win from the club - the boys just cracked in from the first bounce.

"Last year we may have dropped that game, but this year the maturity of the boys who've stepped up ... we controlled the situation right at the end of the game and got on top of them. That was the most pleasing thing; it ended up being one of the best wins I've been part of."