Yet another big game awaits North Melbourne this Sunday at the MCG. With the chance to move two games ahead of Richmond with just six rounds to play, a win could make it extremely tough for the Tigers to finish ahead of the Kangaroos at the end of the home and away season.

There are many variables to take into account when scouting the home team. The immediate stat to pop out is Richmond's ability to get off to a fast start. It has won 10 first quarters this season, a figure bettered by only Sydney and Collingwood.

Narrowing the data down to just the MCG makes for even more impressive reading, as Richmond has a 6-2 record in opening quarters at the ground.

If North can jump Richmond early and lead at quarter time, suddenly the task could become a lot easier. The reason being Richmond has won just two second quarters this season. It's a figure which leaves it equal bottom in the competition with the GWS Giants. In losses this season, only once have the Tigers kicked more than two goals in the second quarter. It's a vast contrast to the 10 second quarters North Melbourne has won.

Richmond's ability to get off to a fast start before it drops off is again reflected in the second half. It has won 11 third quarters and just 6 final quarters.

This shows while Richmond is undoubtedly a side on the improve, it doesn’t consistently carry out the game plan of Damien Hardwick. In many ways, it is similar to the issues North has faced in second halves during the season.

The disparity between Richmond on top of its game and Richmond slightly below the mark is also reflected in the total scores it has conceded. While it has held opponents to 85-points or less on nine occasions (six wins), the other end of the scale has seen it concede more than 105-points in five games (four losses). There is only one score in between the 85-105 mark.

Considering North has scored more than 105-points in seven of its eight wins, it appears to be an accurate 'line' of sorts to determine how the result will trend on Sunday.

Given Richmond is a tenant of the MCG, the logical assumption would be it has an advantage by knowing how to play the ground. However the limited sample size from North's games at the MCG under Brad Scott means it is difficult to tell just how the Kangaroos will cope with the extra length of the ground.

A quirky stat of 2012 shows North with a 2-6 record in day games. The 3.15pm time slot is classified as a day game and an opportunity to take one step closer to evening the ledger.