They’ve been labelled the ‘silent assassins’ for their roles on the opposition’s most damaging players and this week, the tasks set for Ben Jacobs and Sam Gibson could be the difference between North making the Grand Final or missing out for the second consecutive year.

The pair quelled the influence of Trent Cotchin and Brandon Ellis in elimination finals week and nullified Dan Hannebery and Lewis Jetta the following week.

"We just have trust in each other now. We're a totally different side – we're not hoping this year, we think we belong," Jacobs told The Age.

The Eagles wait for Kangaroos in Perth for Saturday night’s preliminary final encounter and Jacobs admitted he still doesn’t know who he’ll go to.

"It depends on who's the most damaging player, who we think is the guy who gets them going, who's their heartbeat," Jacobs said.

It could be one of Matt Priddis if he returns from injury, Luke Shuey or perhaps Andrew Gaff.

"There's definitely a handful who are playing awesome footy," Jacobs added.

Jacobs kept Hannebery to 20 average touches on the weekend and added him the list of scalp that includes Dylan Shiel, Dyson Heppell, Tom Rockliff, Nathan Jones, Jack Steven, Nat Fyfe and Cotchin.

However Jacobs refuses to take all the credit.

"That's the thing, it's a team approach," Jacobs said.

"I'll try and get to him [Hannebery], but there's long periods of the game where other players have got to go to him. We play an 18-man defence. Guys worked willingly in that, chopping Kennedy off. He's a sensational player.

"It's confidence in the team. I have to have trust in the team that when I have to commit to laying a tackle on someone else or running off to defend, someone's going to take him for that period of time," Jacobs said.

"We're growing as a team, and the boys are adjusting around me. It's brilliant."