WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Sunday August 19, 3.15pm
LAST TIME: North Melbourne 21.17 (143) d Fremantle 6.9 (45), round 22, 2011 at Etihad Stadium

This game will play a major part in shaping the bottom half of the final eight. Sixth-placed North has all but secured its finals spot with 13 wins but can cement a home elimination final with wins against Freo and bottom-placed Greater Western Sydney in round 23. Eighth-placed Fremantle is a game ahead of Carlton (ninth) and Essendon (10th) but to be assured of playing finals has to beat North and Melbourne in round 23 at Patersons Stadium. With so much at stake, this promises to be a no-holds-barred affair.

THE FOUR POINTS
NORTH MELBOURNE
1. North and Fremantle have played just eight times in Victoria, with North winning all bar their round 19, 2003 clash when Freo prevailed by one point at the MCG. The Roos have won all four of the teams' games at Etihad Stadium by an average 62.8 points. Since Freo entered the AFL in 1995, the teams have met 21 times, with North holding a 14-7 advantage.

2. This game shapes as a contrast of playing styles, with North's attacking game plan set to be tested by Fremantle's miserly defence. The Roos are ranked No. 2 in the AFL for points scored (108.8 points a game) and average 22 more a game than Freo (86.2, 12th). However, Freo is ranked third for points against (78.6 a game), with North conceding nearly 16 points more a game (94.4, 12th).

3. Ruckman Todd Goldstein will play a crucial role for the Roos when he takes on Aaron Sandilands, who made a successful return from 'turf toe' against Richmond last round. Goldstein has regularly given his on-ballers first use of the ball at stoppages in recent rounds but will have his work cut out against the 211cm Sandilands. Goldstein is ranked second in the AFL for average hitouts this season (32.4), but Sandilands is ranked first, having averaged 38 in his 10 games this season.

4. Key defender Scott Thompson has been outstanding for North in 2012. Last round, he held Collingwood power forward Travis Cloke goalless, but he has shown he is equally capable of shutting down speedy small forwards such as Carlton's Eddie Betts. This round, Thompson is the most likely candidate to play on Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich. Despite recent injury concerns, Pavlich has enjoyed an exceptional 2012 and currently leads the Coleman Medal race on 60 goals.

FREMANTLE
1. The medical team has some sore bodies to nurse through this week, with Matthew Pavlich the biggest concern. Hamstring and achilles tendon tightness meant Pavlich didn't train ahead of the Richmond game and another light week looms to make sure he is fit against North Melbourne. Nathan Fyfe (ankle) and Tendai Mzungu (shoulder) are others with complaints, though an eight-day break should help. Aaron Sandilands will be coming off his first game in more than two months, but the club says he has pulled up well.
 
2. Fremantle's ability to stifle the Tigers' ball movement and strangle their scoring was impossible to ignore in round 21. Ross Lyon and Damien Hardwick didn't agree on much post-match, but they both said the 22-point margin flattered Richmond, which had nine fewer forward 50 entries and 16 fewer shots on goal. North's exciting, hard-running game style, particularly at Etihad Stadium, will be a big test of Fremantle's defensive structures under Lyon.
 
3. When Sandilands was playing in the first half of the season, midfielders David Mundy and Michael Barlow were well below their best. The clearance specialists have lifted in the past month, however, and should produce their best football alongside Sandilands in the next fortnight with a finals spot on the line. With Fyfe back in the team and Ryan Crowley in top form as a stopper, Lyon has his best centre-square combination available. 
 
4. North's tall forward trio of Drew Petrie, Lachlan Hansen and Robbie Tarrant looms large for the Freo backline, which faces some structural decisions this week. Luke McPharlin, who beat Jack Riewoldt in round 21, and Zac Dawson have been a strong duo this season. They will play as lockdown defenders, but Michael Johnson could also be required in an accountable role, despite playing his best football this season as a loose backman. The defence is generally in good shape, with Adam McPhee and Paul Duffield also impressive against Richmond.

AFL.com.au prediction: North Melbourne by 17 points