NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott is not getting carried away with his team's four-game winning streak, saying the Kangaroos will have to be at their best to beat St Kilda this Sunday.

North has resurrected its season in the past month with wins against Adelaide, Gold Coast, Essendon and Port Adelaide that have taken it from 14th on the ladder to ninth, half a game outside the eight.

Speaking at Aegis Park on Thursday, Scott said North had improved on its slow start to the season but its improvement had been gradual rather than radical, putting it down to "a more consistent effort across the board".

Scott was also extremely wary of the Saints, who won the sides' two encounters last season by 104 and 52 points, saying his respect for the 2009-10 Grand Finalists had not diminished despite their tumble down the ladder in 2011.

"We know as well as any other club that key changes in personnel can affect the way your side can perform," Scott said, referring to Lenny Hayes' absence through injury.
 
"But I still expect the 22 they put out onto the park on the weekend to be that really committed, defensively orientated side that they have been in the past."

Scott said North had struggled to penetrate the Saints' all-ground defensive pressure in recent times, so it was vital that his players "hurt" St Kilda when they had the ball this Sunday.

The other main challenge for North will be stopping St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt. The key forward has terrorised the Kangaroos' defence in recent times and last year kicked two bags of seven goals.

Scott there was not "a really obvious match-up" for Riewoldt, suggesting he would rotate his key defenders on him throughout Sunday's game.

"It's going to take more than one player (to stop Riewoldt)," he said.

"It's going to take really good overall defence from our team and a lot is going to be dictated there by our midfield. If our midfield can get on top, hopefully we can limit the supply."

Scott said a win over the Saints would not necessarily be a sign that his team was bridging the gap between it and the competition's top four sides, with North's next few rounds likely to be more revealing.
 
After the Saints, the Kangaroos will play three of the current top-four sides in five weeks - Collingwood in round 16, Carlton in round 19 and Hawthorn in round 20.

Scott also said North had no immediate plans to elevate another rookie despite this week's news Sam Wright would miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.