He’s an All-Australian backman himself, but Scott Thompson says teammate Robbie Tarrant now holds the mantle as North’s “best defender”.

“He’s been awesome Taz, and he’s been only been defending for two years now,” Thompson said on Triple M.

“He’s improved so much and he’s our best defender now. He’s a big boy and he can take those big guys like Tommy Hawkins and Travis Cloke.

“It’s good to have someone there with a bit of a height and he loves jumping at the ball and taking his marks.”

Tarrant, who hurt his ankle against Fremantle, is expected to be available to take on Gold Coast on Saturday.

The 26-year-old's availability would be a boost for North’s chances at Metricon Stadium, particularly with Tom Lynch in career-best form.

Lynch has booted 18 goals in the first four games and leads the race for the Coleman Medal.

“He’s (Lynch) very tall and he’s big now, and he’s their (the Suns’) go-to man,” Thompson said.

“The ball’s going through him a bit and he’s on fire at the moment.”

Perhaps Lynch’s greatest competition as the league’s best key-forward to start 2016 will line up at the opposite end of the ground.

Jarrad Waite is equal-second in the running for the AFL’s leading goal-kicker, with 16 majors in four matches.

“He’s in some good form at the moment and loving life,” Thompson said.

“His pressure around the ball is unbelievable. He did a great chase-down tackle on the weekend and he reaps the rewards by getting on the end of it.”

North has lost its last two matches at Metricon Stadium, including a 55-point defeat in Round 14 last year.

“I can remember the game when we were up by about 40 at quarter-time (Round 11, 2013). It rained heavily and we still lost,” Thompson said.

“We’re obviously going to go up there and try and fix that.

“They (the Suns) have a talented list. They are all quick, strong, tall. They are a very athletic team, so they’ll be trying to take us on.”