WHERE AND WHEN: Blundstone Arena, Saturday July 7, 1.45pm
LAST TIME: West Coast 17.18 (115) d North Melbourne 15.5 (95), round six, 2012 at Patersons Stadium

After North Melbourne's previous trip to Tasmania ended in a 115-point loss to Hawthorn, few would have given it much hope against the high-flying West Coast five rounds later. However, the Kangaroos have recaptured their best form in the past two rounds, defeating Adelaide and St Kilda with slick ball movement that should trouble the Eagles - if they can reproduce it. The Roos will also relish the chance to tackle West Coast at their new Hobart 'home' ground, with the Eagles' three losses this season all coming on the road.

THE FOUR POINTS

NORTH MELBOURNE

1. North will be playing just its second game at Blundstone Arena but it could scarcely have made a more impressive start at its new second home, winning its first match in Hobart by 129 points against Greater Western Sydney in round two this year. The Kangaroos and Eagles have each played Hawthorn six times at Launceston's Aurora Stadium in recent seasons for just two wins apiece. North boasts the most recent of those wins, in round 10, 2010, with the Eagles last winning in Tasmania in 2005.

2. When North took on West Coast in round six it was able to pit Todd Goldstein and Hamish McIntosh against star Eagles ruckman Dean Cox, with Nic Naitanui sidelined with injury. However, this round the Eagles will enjoy a two-on-one ruck advantage. With McIntosh still sidelined with a knee injury, Goldstein will probably take on Cox and Naitanui alone, save for occasional help from Drew Petrie. Goldstein's ability to match the Eagles' duo at ruck contests and around the ground will be crucial to North's hopes.

3. Will North play a defensive forward on Shannon Hurn? The Eagles' half-back cut North apart with his incisive right foot in round six as he found the time and space to rack up 23 kicks. Presumably, Brad Scott will not want to give Hurn such latitude again. Which could mean he sends Sam Wright - fresh off his impressive run-with role on St Kilda playmaker Brendon Goddard last round - to mind Hurn.

4. North's three-pronged forward line of Drew Petrie, Lachie Hansen (both 197cm) and Robbie Tarrant (196cm) has worked well in the past two rounds, combining for seven goals against Adelaide and eight against St Kilda. However, the Eagles looked as well placed as any team to counter North's height in attack. They have two outstanding key defenders in captain Darren Glass and Eric Mackenzie and are hopeful fellow tall Will Schofield will be ready to resume after missing the past two matches with a hamstring injury.

WEST COAST

1. The Eagles have lost their past three games on the road and need to start banking away wins if they are going to finish top two and earn a crucial home qualifying final. Losses away to Essendon (61 points), the Brisbane Lions (two) and Collingwood (three) have seen the club slip from first to third. After Saturday's trip to Hobart, the Eagles travel to AAMI Stadium (rounds 17 and 21) and the MCG for a round 23 clash with Hawthorn.

2. Will John Worsfold continue to experiment with his midfield or revert this week to the formula he has used for most of the season? Injecting Chris Masten and Andrew Gaff into inside midfield roles against Gold Coast, and sending Luke Shuey to half-forward, worked wonders against the young Gold Coast team last Saturday. The trio battled for best-afield honours and made the Eagles look less predictable.

3. The Eagles had an encouraging spread of goalkickers against the Suns, with 13 players getting on the board. Without sharpshooters Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras, more multiple goalkickers need to stand up. Quinten Lynch booted four goals against the Suns, while Jack Darling leads the club with 26 for the season. Midfield goals from players like Masten and Shuey will continue to be valuable, as will the impact of resting ruckmen Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.

4. After an eye-catching debut, West Coast faces a selection dilemma with Murray Newman. The skilful small forward, who can rotate through the midfield, had 13 disposals and kicked 2.2 against the Suns after replacing Gaff halfway through the third quarter. If the 18-year-old can't break into the Eagles' starting line-up, West Coast might prefer him to play full games in the WAFL to aid his development. Conversely, his pace, clean hands and foot skills could continue to make him an ideal substitute.

AFL.com.au prediction: West Coast by seven points

The views in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs