WHERE AND WHEN: Metricon Stadium, Saturday June 16, 7.40pm
LAST TIME: North Melbourne 17.25 (127) d Gold Coast 13.15 (93), round 5, 2012, at Etihad Stadium

Gold Coast and North Melbourne are arguably the two teams under the most pressure entering round 12 and they square off on Saturday night. The Suns are coming off their worst loss of the season - an uncompetitive 95-point defeat from St Kilda - while North Melbourne (4-6) lost four of five before the bye and are well outside their pre-season top-eight expectations. The Kangaroos defeated a Gary Ablett-less Suns in Melbourne in round five, but only after trailing at half-time. The winner can buy themselves a week's peace, while the loser will face another week of scrutiny.

THE FOUR POINTS

GOLD COAST

1. How will the Suns respond to their coach's criticism? Despite losing 30 of 33 matches since entering the AFL, Guy McKenna has generally spared the Suns of his wrath - until last week. If calling their loss against St Kilda unacceptable and saying they "turned their toes up" doesn't encourage a positive response from his players, nothing will.

2. One bright light in the dismal showing last week was young ruckman Tom Hickey. Since being elevated at the expense of boom 2011 ruck Zac Smith the previous week, 21-year-old Hickey has shown he is not only capable at stoppages, but is particularly strong in the air. Facing Todd Goldstein is another exciting test for him.

3. Michael Rischitelli came to the Suns as one of their highest profile recruits. However after a strong 2011, the former Lion has been well off the pace this season and Gold Coast need more from him. Rischitelli has been battling with ankle and hamstring problems and has played a number of run-with roles this year, but 15 disposals in the past two weeks - and averaging just 14 for the season - isn't cutting it for one of their midfield prime movers.

4. If the Kangaroos weren't already worried about stopping Gary Ablett, they should be doubly so after his quiet showing against the Saints. Ablett was held to just 20 touches for just the second time in his Suns career. Last time he had 20 (against the Brisbane Lions in round seven last year), he bounced back with a 41 disposal, four-goal masterpiece against Adelaide the following week.

NORTH MELBOURNE

1. The focus of the football world was on North for all the wrong reasons as it entered its bye last round. First, it had to deal with the backlash that followed its 115-point round 10 loss to Hawthorn. Hot on the heels of that, their chief executive Eugene Arocca resigned amid reports of internal disharmony. But a good win against the Suns will help shift the focus from those events and, more importantly, keep the Kangaroos' fading finals hopes alive.

2. North was smashed 34-49 in the clearances against Hawthorn, with their main clearance-winner, skipper Andrew Swallow, winning just two under a tight tag from Brad Sewell. The Kangaroos have relied heavily on Swallow at stoppages this season, with the skipper having won almost twice as many clearances as their next best player (71 to Jack Ziebell's 38). North will be looking for the likes of Ben Cunnington and Ryan Bastinac to step up in this area.

3. With Suns vice-captain Nathan Bock (broken leg) sidelined with injury, North looks to have the height and experience to stretch Gold Coast's young defence. Former Demon Matthew Warnock is odds-on to get the job on North co-vice-captain Drew Petrie, with young Suns defenders Rory Thompson and Seb Tape likely to have their hands full at different times with Aaron Edwards, Aaron Black, resting ruckman Todd Goldstein and, if recalled, Robbie Tarrant.

4. Suns skipper Gary Ablett was missing when these two teams last met, in round five, but the former Geelong superstar enjoys an outstanding recent record against the Kangaroos. In his past six matches against North, Ablett has averaged more than 33 possessions and 1.5 goals. North will almost certainly tag Ablett, with Levi Greenwood the most likely man for the job.

AFL.com.au Prediction: North Melbourne by 30 points

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL