North Melbourne travels to Geelong for the final round of the NAB Cup with a Grand Final berth in reach.

By the time the first siren blows at Simonds Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Kangaroos will know what they have to do to progress. Carlton's match against Adelaide the previous night will make the situation clearer; while a win is needed in any case, the margin required will depend on the Blues' result.

Squads

North Melbourne

1. Daniel Currie, 3. Ryan Bastinac, 4. Liam Anthony, 5. Ben Jacobs, 6. Lachlan Hansen, 7. Jack Ziebell, 8. Daniel Wells, 9. Andrew Swallow, 10. Ben Cunnington, 11. Michael Firrito, 12. Lindsay Thomas, 13. Leigh Adams, 14. Jordan Gysberts, 16. Scott Thompson, 18. Shaun Atley, 19. Sam Wright, 20. Drew Petrie, 23. Kieran Harper, 24. Levi Greenwood, 28. Will Sierakowski, 29. Brent Harvey, 34. Jamie Macmillan, 35. Aaron Black, 38. Majak Daw, 41. Aaron Mullett, 42. Scott McMahon, 43. Sam Gibson

Geelong

1. Mitch Brown, 4. Andrew Mackie, 5. Travis Varcoe, 9. James Kelly, 11. Joel Corey, 13. Tom Lonergan, 14. Joel Selwood, 15. Jordan Schroder, 19. Taylor Hunt, 20. Steve Johnson, 21. Jordan Murdoch, 23. Josh Caddy, 26. Tom Hawkins, 28. Allen Christensen, 29. Cameron Guthrie, 32. Steven Motlop, 33. George Horlin-Smith, 34. Joshua Walker, 35. Paul Chapman, 37. Cameron Eardley, 38. Jackson Sheringham, 39. Shane Kersten, 40. Jackson Thurlow, 41. Jesse Stringer, 42. Ryan Bathie, 45. Joel Hamling, 46. Mark Blicavs

Missing In Action

North Melbourne

Robbie Tarrant has been rested after losing five kilograms in the heat and humidity of Townsville. Nathan Grima, while missing from the senior squad could make his return for Werribee on Saturday afternoon.
Todd Goldstein will line up in the curtain-raiser for North Ballarat.

Geelong

The Cats are missing Jimmy Bartel, as well as regular starters Harry Taylor, Josh Hunt, James Podsiadly and Jared Rivers.

Former Roo Hamish McIntosh is recovering from a knee injury and will not take the field.

Recovery

The Kangaroos played in taxing conditions at Tony Ireland Stadium, and put a strong focus on recovery early in the week.

The players have worked strongly on the track since, but it will be interesting to see how North bounces out of the blocks.

Keeping the powder dry?

North faces Geelong in Round 2 of the home and away season in only a month’s time.

With such a short turnaround between meetings, both coaches could opt to keep some of their tactics under wraps.

However the competitive training sessions between the two teams early in January will mean the teams could already be quite familiar to the opposition’s setup.  

Currie for one

Playing as the sole ruckman on Saturday, Daniel Currie has another chance to further impress the North coaching staff.

His first two outings against Richmond and Gold Coast have showcased excellent work at centre bounces and stoppages around the ground, and two goals against the Suns opened the door for a potential pinch-hitting role up forward.

"I definitely feel like I’m a ruckman and feel more comfortable in there but if there’s an opportunity to be there in the side and have an impact up forward as well as playing in the ruck then I’d grab it with both hands,” Currie said on Monday.

Hansen the defender?

The second half of 2012 saw Lachlan Hansen establish his place in the forward-line alongside Robbie Tarrant and Drew Petrie.

Against the Gold Coast, the number 6 found himself in the defensive half and acquitted himself well. It's a position he's familiar with after spending time there earlier in his career.

With Drew Petrie, Majak Daw and Aaron Black in the squad for Saturday's game and no Grima or the Delaney brothers, Hansen be given the role of quelling the influence of one of Geelong’s key targets.

Where it will be won

With many of Geelong's stars in the pre-season so far sitting out Saturday's match, their absence could be exploited by a North squad close to full-strength.

No Bartel weakens Geelong's midfield despite the presence of Joel Selwood and company while the majority of the Cats' first choice defence will be sitting on the sidelines. Petrie, Daw and Black have the opportunity to take advantage of their size on what projects to be a warm day in perfect conditions for marking forwards.

Bogey ground

In North's last eight regular season matches at Simonds Stadium it has come away with just one win, back in 2007.

While the stakes are considerably lower this time around, a win would be a handy psychological boost for the playing group ahead of the home and away season.