Narrm (Melbourne) Demons coach Simon Goodwin is wary of the threat North Melbourne poses his side this weekend.

While the teams have had vastly differing fortunes this campaign - the Demons are top of the ladder and remain unbeaten this season while the Kangaroos currently sit 17th - Goodwin is well aware the game isn't won on paper or in form guides.

The impending return of Jy Simpkin, Jason Horne-Francis and Hugh Greenwood looks set to bolster North's midfield, and Goodwin says his team will respect the Kangaroos' talent in the middle of the ground.

"We know we've got a strong footy team this week in North Melbourne that we need to play well against … we'll come into this week and we'll respect the opposition got what they can bring," Goodwin said.

"They're a tough team around the ball so we have to respect that and be at our best in that space."

While Goodwin and North Melbourne senior coach David Noble have had remarkably different careers in football, the pair overlapped at the Adelaide Crows in Goodwin's final years as a player. 

Noble was part of the Crows' coaching group before progressing to become the general manager of football operations at the club. Goodwin was club captain and one of the classiest and most consistent players in the AFL at the time.

The Demons head coach says he has respect for what Noble is trying to achieve at Arden Street.

"One thing I know about David is he's a fine person and a fine coach. I've known him for a number of years and they've got the right man for the job at their footy club," Goodwin said.

"They're clearly going through a rebuild and they're getting some highly talented people to their footy club and David is one of those.

"I think there's a mutual respect for all coaches around the stage their footy club is at. Every club is at a slightly different stage in their development, their process, their list, and a whole range of different things.

"From a coaching perspective we support each other, we understand the challenges that sit within the job and I'm sure he'll come out the other side coaching a very strong footy team."