North Melbourne faces competition leaders Collingwood under Saturday night lights in Round 11, hunting a second Sir Doug Nicholls Round win in as many weeks.

The Roos return to Marvel Stadium following their stirring four-point win over Richmond.

They will be out for revenge against Collingwood after a heart-breaking loss in the clubs' last meeting, but will need to string together four strong quarters if they're to knock off a formidable Pies line-up.

Round 11, North Melbourne v Collingwood
Where: Marvel Stadium, VIC
When: Saturday, May 24 at 7.35pm AEST 
How to watch: Foxtel, Kayo Sports

The opposition

After 10 rounds the Pies have become the team to beat, sitting on top of the ladder with an 8-2 record.

In a wintry affair at the MCG last week, Craig McRae's charges stood tall to deliver a 10-point win over Kuwarna (Adelaide), holding the Crows' talented attack to just 68 points.

Dan Houston remains in the line-up despite experiencing a calf complaint, but captain Darcy Moore will miss another game due to a shoulder issue.

Running hot

There was simply no stopping Tristan Xerri at the home of footy last Sunday.

Hungry to get his side over the line against the Tigers, the ruckman tallied 51 hitouts, 19 disposals, 12 tackles and 11 clearances.

With 48 coaches' votes next to his name, Xerri enters Round 11 on top of the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award leaderboard.

What the coach has said

North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson post-game v Richmond: "What's been really pleasing in the last month is that we've been in games of footy. With the start that we had, we were hoping the margin might've been a bit better at the end of the game, and I'm sure the Tigers are lamenting the fact that they were four goals down at quarter-time.

"It became a real arm-wrestle ... it felt like going to the dentist."