It’s now or never according to Jack Ziebell with North Melbourne on the verge of missing the finals unless things change.

The vice-captain admitted the players were “embarrassed” and didn’t take the right attitude into the game against the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday.

"The way we are going at the minute, we've got to change something. When you are 6 and 7 after round 14, it is now or never, so that's the mindset we have," Ziebell said.

"It's backs against the wall."

North was tipped to be a top-four side before the season began, but now may struggle to make the finals if it doesn’t take advantage of a perceived softer draw in the second half of the season.

Ziebell says winning is a non-negotiable as the side prepares to take on the Cats on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium. Geelong is two points ahead of the Roos on the ladder at 6-6 (including the Crows' draw).

"But having said that, we've still got nine weeks to go so we've got to look forward to that and make sure we improve this week. It's a big game for both footy clubs so both teams will have the same attitude going into it," Ziebell said.

Senior coach Brad Scott returns as match-day coach for North after a long lay-off with a back injury and Ziebell said the players will be expecting a ‘brutal review’ on Monday.

"It's happened a few times this year, so something has got to give," he said.

"It goes back to our consistency as a footy club. It hasn't been great this year, with some bad losses.”

Ziebell added the side ‘shot themselves in the foot’ with poor skill errors.