Having won just three of its last 17 games against Sydney, North Melbourne faces another tough task on Saturday.

Recent matches between the two sides have been hard-fought; five and six point victories to the Swans in the last two, and previous to that a two-point Roos’ win in an SCG classic in 2018.

And while North will go in full of confidence coming off a big win over the Giants, Sydney will be just as eager to bounce back from its loss to Essendon.

“They are a fiercely competitive football team and football club,” Rhyce Shaw said of the side he played 143 games for.

“They take great pride in competing every single week; that pretty much sums them up and that’s why they’ve been so successful for so long.

“It’s obvious that that team and the way it’s coached, is competitive at all stages.”

The Swans had an impressive win in round one over Adelaide, and with the likes of Tom Papley and Isaac Heeney in attack, Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy through the midfield, and Dane Rampe and Jake Lloyd down back, look a formidable opponent.

“I’m very wary of that this week. Sydney has some really impressive young guys, they play good contested footy and I’m really making sure that my head’s in the game, and our players are in the game,” Shaw said.

“Sydney can get you at any stage. They back their plans in and they back their game, and I don’t see that changing too much.

“We know what’s coming … it’s going to be a hard contest.”

North will come off a six-day break for the Marvel Stadium clash on Saturday, with the first bounce at 1.45pm AEST.

Marley Williams could return to the side, with his suspension complete, while a host of players will be looking to push their case for a call-up.