North Melbourne's final home game for 2013 sees it take on the ladder leading Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium.

Having won its last three games at the arena, the Kangaroos will be looking to give their members the perfect send off before the final round game at the MCG.

Teams

North Melbourne

B: Lachlan Hansen, Luke Delaney, Aaron Mullett
HB: Sam Wright, Michael Firrito, Shaun Atley
C: Ryan Bastinac, Daniel Wells, Sam Gibson
HF: Jamie Macmillan, Robbie Tarrant, Brent Harvey
F: Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie, Aaron Black
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Jack Ziebell
Int: Levi Greenwood, Ben Jacobs, Brad McKenzie, Leigh Adams
Emer: Daniel Currie, Taylor Garner, Will Sierakowski

In: Michael Firrito, Jack Ziebell
Out: Nathan Grima (foot), Will Sierakowski (omitted)

Hawthorn

B: Ben Stratton, Brian Lake, Brent Guerra
HB: Shaun Burgoyne, Josh Gibson, Grant Birchall
C: Isaac Smith, Luke Hodge, Shane Savage
HF: Luke Breust, Lance Franklin, Jordan Lewis
F: David Hale, Jarrod Roughead, Cyril Rioli
Fol: Max Bailey, Brad Sewell, Sam Mitchell
Int: Brendan Whitecross, Jack Gunston, Jed Anderson, Bradley Hill
Emer: Taylor Duryea, Liam Shiels, Matthew Spangher

In: Brent Guerra, Jed Anderson
Out: Paul Puopolo (calf), Taylor Duryea (omitted)

Key matchup

Lachlan Hansen v Lance Franklin

While this matchup is yet to be confirmed, the absence of Scott Thompson and Nathan Grima may mean Hansen gets first crack at Hawthorn's number 23.

With Luke Delaney more suited to the marking forwards, Hansen has the tank to match Franklin and the closing speed to stick with the left footer on the lead.

Hansen's role as a loose man in defence during recent weeks may have allowed the fact to slip that he is an extremely good key position defender in his own right. Perhaps the best example of this came in a heavy loss to Collingwood in 2011.

Playing on Travis Cloke and despite being bombarded with contests all day, Hansen kept the Collingwood star to just two goals, both kicked well after the result was a foregone conclusion.

Last time they met

Round 5, 2013

North entered its first meeting with Hawthorn as heavy underdogs after losing to the Hawks by 115 points the previous season. However right from the first siren North was in the game, matching Hawthorn all around the ground.

Much like many of North's early season games, this one came down to the wire. Lindsay Thomas kicked three of his five goals in the last quarter. North trailed by three points with the ball deep in its forward 50 when the final siren sounded, signifying a close loss, yet much improved from the last meeting between the teams.

Missing in action

North Melbourne

Scott Thompson - Bruised Lung - Season
Nathan Grima - Foot - TBD
Cam Delaney - Toe/Knee - Season
Max Warren - Collarbone - Season
Andrew Swallow - Achilles - Season
Mason Wood - Knee - Season
Tom Curran - Foot - Season
Majak Daw - Knee - Season

Hawthorn

Ryan Schoenmakers - Knee - Season
Matt Suckling - Knee - Season
Alex Woodward - Knee - Season

Under the radar

North Melbourne

Ryan Bastinac

Bastinac has settled into a consistent rhythm over the last few weeks, collecting around 20 disposals most weeks and hitting the scoreboard more often.

His 17 goals in 2013 is the most he's tallied in a single season, with majors in seven of his last eight games. However, he'll be looking to bounce back from his quieter than normal game against the Hawks in Round 5.

Hawthorn

Brendan Whitecross

Since his comeback from a knee injury in Round 14, Whitecross has played a variety of roles for the Hawks. However it was his most recent job as a defensive forward against Heath Shaw which was arguably the most impressive yet.

Holding the dashing Collingwood rebounder to just nine touches, Whitecross completely shut Shaw out of the game. If he attempts to play a similar role on Saturday, Aaron Mullett could have some uninvited company.

Quarter by quarter

Saturday is a battle of the best two first quarter sides in the competition, with North and Hawthorn having won 16 out of 20 so far in 2013. In a small victory, North's point differential is +281 in opening terms while Hawthorn's is +221.

When it comes to total quarters won, North sits in fifth position with 48, just eight behind Hawthorn's 56. This all means that despite North's missing players and despite the respective ladder positions, everything is set up for a closer than predicted contest on Saturday.