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North faced the Bulldogs earlier in the season as warm favourites to notch up its fourth win. However, it was shocked by a hard-working visiting side which triumphed by 18-points. It was a game the Kangaroos can take a lot from in preparation for this Saturday's rematch.

The Round 7 loss could be regarded as the beginning of the Roos’ form slump which included a defeat to Port Adelaide and a thumping from Hawthorn.

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Brian Lake is an opponent North has had trouble with in the past. In the three games Lake has played against the Kangaroos with Brad Scott at the helm, he has not lost once and averages an incredible 31.3 possessions and 16.3 marks.

It was much the same earlier this season as Lake held Drew Petrie quiet while collecting 26 possessions and 12 marks. In afl.com.au's The Whiteboard, Matthew Richardson suggests how North can counter Lake deep in defence.

"One of the ways to beat Brian is by constant movement, by not standing still and keeping him on the move because I think he can get a little bit lost at times," Richardson said.

"If you want to lead in straight lines on Brian Lake he’ll beat you nearly every day of the week (because) he's got really good speed, he'll stay with you and spoil and then he'll mop up and get the football, and we know how damaging he can be."

It was a combination of Lake's excellent play and sub-par entries into the forward 50 which crippled North's chances. If a criticism was to be leveled at North's performance on Saturday against Melbourne it could be that it bombed the ball in long to congestion too often.

Similar execution on Saturday will have Lake licking his lips and North struggling to score. The 83-points in Round 7 was its lowest score at Etihad Stadium this season and also the only time it has failed to reach the century at the venue in 2012.

On the flipside, the Bulldogs have struggled to score goals in recent weeks and with this in mind, North must be efficient with the ball and ensure it isn't hurt going the other way. In the first meeting this season, the Bulldogs scored nine of their 15 goals from North turnovers and it was a big part in the result.

It was through those turnovers the Bulldogs were able to enter their own forward 50 much more frequently than usual. Averaging 51 entries per game so far this year, in Round 7 they managed 59.

North's defence will be bolstered by the presence of Scott McMahon if he is passed fit. Daniel Giansiracusa and Tory Dickson kicked seven of the Bulldogs' 15 goals in the first meeting and McMahon, alongside a much improved Shaun Atley, will be key to neutralising the two forward targets.

North Melbourne 3.1.19, 6.5.41, 11.8.74, 12.11.83
Western Bulldogs 3.3.21, 9.6.60, 14.8.92, 15.11.101

Bests
North Melbourne: Thompson, Swallow, Adams, Wells
Western Bulldogs: Lake, Griffen, Boyd, Dickson, Higgins, Liberatore, Hargrave

Goals
North Melbourne: Thomas 3, Petrie 3, Anthony 2, Cunnington, Harper, Adams, Edwards
Western Bulldogs: Dickson 4, Giansiracusa 3, Higgins 2, Sherman 2, Cordy, Wallis, Cross, Murphy