The Kangaroos face one of their toughest assignments of the season when they travel to Launceston to face a red-hot Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon.

Round 21, Hawthorn v North Melbourne
When: Saturday, August 1 at 1.35pm AEST
Where: UTAS Stadium, Launceston, Tas
How to watch: Foxtel, Kayo Sports

The opposition

The Hawks are in hot form, sitting third on the ladder and having won their past three games by an average of 76 points. 

Forward Mitch Lewis will miss with a concussion this week, but the Kangaroos won't need reminding that his veteran teammate Jack Gunston can be deadly in front of the sticks. 

The 34-year-old, who kicked seven goals in the Hawks' 93-point demolition of Essendon on Saturday, also kicked seven the last time the Roos played the Hawks at this venue, in Round 16 last season.

Mabior Chol added five goals on that occasion as the Hawks won by 85 points, with Lloyd Meek getting the better of Tristan Xerri in the ruck.

In the mix

Talls Will Dawson and Taylor Goad are among the Kangaroos in contention for a call-up for this match, along with defender Tom Blamires, who made an impressive return at VFL level last weekend.

Defender Charlie Comben suffered a big hit to the chest in the club’s Round 20 defeat to the Saints and will need to prove his fitness ahead of the Roos’ trip to Launceston, as will Tom Powell (groin) and Callum Coleman-Jones (ankle).

Jacob Konstanty (illness) and Riley Hardeman (AFL emergency) could receive call-ups despite not playing at either level last weekend.

Running hot

A career-best season is within reach for forward Paul Curtis, who was one of North Melbourne's strongest contributors in last week's inaccurate team performance.

Curtis's two goals against the Saints took his haul to eight in the past three games.

His season tally stands at 30, eight short of the 38 he recorded last season. Breaking that mark would be fitting reward for the 23-year-old's most consistent year to date. 

What the coach has said

North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson post-match v St Kilda: "We were spanked around the contests. We were still in the game, but when those numbers are consistently going against you, it's hard to maintain your competitiveness in the game. Despite appealing to our boys, we just couldn't arrest the momentum they were getting in that space."