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JACK Ziebell says his four-match suspension could prove a blessing in disguise as he prepares to return against North Melbourne's bogey side of recent years, Collingwood, this Saturday night.

Ziebell was controversially suspended for his round-16 collision with Carlton's Aaron Joseph despite the AFL Tribunal's finding he had been contesting the ball at the time.

Ziebell made the best of a bad situation, using his time on the sidelines to fit in two weeks of altitude training in Utah with first-year Roo Brad McKenzie.

Last year, Collingwood midfield star Dane Swan squeezed in a similar mid-season training block in Arizona and then finished the year so strongly he won the Brownlow Medal.

Ziebell is hoping the four to five-hour training days he logged in Utah and his month-long break from football will help him run out 2012 just as strongly.

"[It's] obviously not a great result missing a month of footy but you've got to take the positives out of every situation and I think that going to Utah and getting some more exposure at altitude is probably not a bad thing for me," Ziebell said after North's recovery session at Williamstown Beach on Monday.

"Hopefully that's going to hold me in good stead for the rest of the season.

"I've been doing a fair bit of running but ... I think the contact and the bumps [in games] is where you become the most sore and not having that for a month I'm feeling as fresh as a daisy and I'm jumping out of my skin to get out there."

When he does run out against Collingwood this Saturday night, Ziebell says he won't be muzzling his attack on the ball despite his recent suspension.

"I've been brought up to attack the ball ferociously and I think that's one of the strengths of my game," Ziebell said.

"So if I was to be put in that position again not much would change. And if that leads to me getting in trouble down the track we'll sort it out when that comes."

In Ziebell's absence, the Roos won all four of their games to climb from ninth on the ladder to sixth.

Nonetheless, the co-vice-captain's return is timely given Leigh Adams (dislocated left shoulder) has already been ruled out of Saturday night's game and Daniel Wells (calf) is in doubt.

Ziebell's stoppage work will be vital as North tackles Collingwood's elite midfield, albeit weakened by Swan's absence through a club suspension.

Collingwood has dominated the Roos like no other team in recent seasons, winning their past four clashes by an average 80.5 points.

But Ziebell says North is well placed to face the third-placed Magpies.

"Coming off a few good wins and knowing we're in good form is a confidence builder to come into the game. We're in a good position to take them on.

"I think the guys are just really looking forward to getting out there ... it's going to be a great opportunity to get out there and really enjoy the challenge."

Nick Bowen covers North Melbourne news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nick