Football is a game of instinct for North Melbourne's Jack Ziebell but after three suspensions in the past two years, something has to give.

The aggressive midfielder returns from a three-match ban on Sunday as North (4-8) host winless Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

"I don't plan on changing the way I attack the ball or change the way I attack the player with the ball," Ziebell told AAP.

"It's just a little bit of a tinker with the way I go about staying on the ground. There's a big emphasis (on that).

"Where I've been in hot water in the past is when you leave the ground, you make a conscious decision to leave the ground.

"Although it doesn't feel like that, it's instinct, it's something that has to be tinkered with because I can't keep getting suspended and missing big chunks of games."

Ziebell has also been suspended for bumps on Carlton's Aaron Joseph (four weeks) and St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt (three weeks) in the past two years.

North's joint vice-captain trained in Utah mid-season in 2012 but this time the 22-year-old stayed around the club while suspended and enjoyed the daily interaction with teammates.

"Hopefully I can still have impact over four quarters and not go missing is the main thing I'd like to really work on in the second half of the season," said Ziebell, who averages 21 disposals in 2013.

North will be hoping its season amounts to more than just developing the games of certain key players.

The Kangaroos produced a 10-2 finish after their mid-season bye in 2012 to qualify in eighth spot on 14-8.

However a tough run home leaves North with a mighty task to pick up eight or nine wins in its next 10 games and squeeze into the top eight.

The Kangaroos are expecting a tough assignment against the Giants' emerging midfield group led by 20-year-old Adam Treloar.

North's midfield pressure will be crucial to its hopes of limiting the influence of Giants' key forward Jeremy Cameron, Ziebell says.

"He can take a huge mark. He's kicked 33 goals so he's quite dangerous," Ziebell said.

The Giants dropped Josh Bruce and former top-three draft picks Stephen Coniglio and Lachie Plowman.

North recalled 196cm forward Robbie Tarrant who has played one VFL game after overcoming a leg injury.