Reliable defenders, hard-nosed midfielders and dynamic forwards; taking on the Swans is no easy task.

John Longmire’s team has won its last four games, none more impressively than the 70-point win over St Kilda on Saturday night.

Challenged for much of the first half by a team needing to win to stay in finals contention, the Swans effectively won the game with a devastating burst in the third quarter.

One player was particularly instrumental – Lance Franklin. With 15 disposals and three goals in a term, he was on fire.

Franklin is the Swans’ clear goal-kicking leader with 67 in 20 matches, but it’s the evenness across the rest of the team that makes them so dangerous.

14 players have kicked 10 or more goals this season, with Isaac Heeney the closest to Franklin, with 24.

Add Kurt Tippett, likely to return from injury this week, and the task becomes even greater for Brad Scott's men. 

The big man averaged 14 disposals, 29 hit-outs and 1.3 goals a game before being sidelined for the past nine weeks.

Likely to spend more time in attack as he works his way back to full fitness, Tippett is sure to be high up in the plans for the North coaches.

The Swans had 11 goal-kickers last week, with the likes of Tom Papley and Xavier Richards among those hitting the scoreboard. North’s defenders will need to be at the top of their game from the start.

But perhaps it’s the midfield that could hold even greater importance; in Round 10, Tom Mitchell had 41 disposals, Josh Kennedy 35, Dan Hannebery 34 and Jake Lloyd 26 in a dominant on-ball display.

On a Friday night at the SCG, only Ben Cunnington (32) and Jack Ziebell (22) had over 20 disposals.

Contested football is key for both sides, and North will look to bounce back at Blundstone Arena.

In defence, the ever-reliable Jarrad McVeigh continues to find the footy, meaning the Roos’ small-forwards will need to be on their toes, while Heath Grundy will set himself for a big job on Drew Petrie once again.

Lock-down defenders Dane Rampe and Nick Smith will no doubt be eyeing clashes against the likes of Lindsay Thomas and Jed Anderson.

The ruck battle is an interesting conundrum for Longmire. With Tippett back, will one of Sam Naismith or Toby Nankervis be forced out?

With two games left before a potential finals’ campaign, there couldn’t be any better preparation for North than a clash against one of the premiership favourites.