Working on a two-game winning streak, North Melbourne goes to Brisbane for its penultimate interstate game of the season.

A third successive victory will have the Roos at 7-8 and close to fully reigniting their season.

Teams

North Melbourne

B: Lachlan Hansen, Scott Thompson, Aaron Mullett
HB: Taylor Hine, Nathan Grima, Shaun Atley
C: Sam Gibson, Daniel Wells, Ryan Bastinac
HF: Leigh Adams, Drew Petrie, Levi Greenwood
F: Aaron Black, Robbie Tarrant, Brent Harvey
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell
Int: Brad McKenzie, Ben Cunnington, Michael Firrito, Jamie Macmillan
Emer: Ben Jacobs, Luke Delaney, Taylor Garner

Unchanged

Brisbane

B: Mitch Golby, Matt Maguire, Joel Patfull
HB: Ryan Harwood, Justin Clarke, Brent Staker
C: Pearce Hanley, Ryan Lester, Jed Adcock
HF: Dayne Zorko, Jonathan Brown, Tom Rockliff
F: Ash McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Rohan Bewick
Fol: Matthew Leuenberger, Jack Redden, Daniel Rich
Int: James Polkinghorne, Andrew Raines, Josh Green, Sam Mayes
Emer: Patrick Karnezis, Sam Docherty, Elliot Yeo

In: James Polkinghorne
Out: Brent Moloney (calf)

Key matchup

Todd Goldstein v Matthew Leuenberger

During the week at Aegis Park, Brad Scott commented that ‘hopefully we can see the Goldstein-Leuenberger ruck battle for another decade.’

So far in the battle, Goldstein has the edge. The North big man has averaged more than seven extra hit-outs per game in his three matches against Leuenberger as the number one ruckman.

However it is also fair to say that Leuenberger has rarely been at full fitness or form when coming up against Goldstein. This won’t be the case on Saturday night.

Able to string a consistent batch of games together for the first time in 18 months, Leuenberger is coming off multiple consecutive strong performances, indicating edition four of the battle between the ruckmen is shaping to be the best yet.

Travelling blues

Trips on the road have not been kind for North in recent memory. Since the start of 2011, the Roos have gone 1-11 in away interstate games against non-expansion sides.

With one more game in Adelaide to follow for the season (Round 20), North has to win at least one of the two to maintain its outside chance of a second successive finals berth.

Brisbane has won its last two games at the GABBA, slowly working on transforming the ground back into the fortress of the early 2000’s. Considering it has defeated the Kangaroos in the last four matches at the ground, North will need to turn the tide to get the result..

Missing in action

North Melbourne

Despite a return to full fitness, Werribee’s unique scheduling has forced Scott McMahon to bide his time in the VFL. A Tuesday night Foxtel Cup encounter at Patersons Stadium coupled with the senior side’s trip to Brisbane left the match committee with no choice but to leave the reliable defender in Melbourne.

Brisbane

Simon Black and Brent Moloney are two vital cogs of the Lions’ midfield who won’t take to the ground on Saturday night. Black is recovering from a groin injury while Moloney strained his calf last week, ruling him out of the clash with North.

Young stars

North Melbourne

Taylor Hine

It was in North’s first meeting with Brisbane in 2013 where Taylor Hine announced himself as a best 22 player. Playing on Daniel Rich, Hine restricted the left footer to just 15 possessions, collecting 17 of his own.

The battle looks likely to resume again as the former Sun continues his run-with roles.

Brisbane

Sam Mayes

Mayes was selected with the eighth pick in the 2012 National Draft and has immediately set about justifying the hype. Averaging more than 17 disposals a game, the left-footer is efficient by foot and can also be damaging.

In the absence of Black and Moloney, Mayes will be called upon to continue his promising form so far in 2013.

The road ahead

Many North players have spoken in recent weeks of the need ‘to get back to 8-8.’ Halfway there with Brisbane and Carlton to come, if the Roos manage to square the ledger it sets them up for a blockbuster finish to 2013.

However at 5-9, Brisbane simply just needs to keep winning to maintain any hope of a first finals berth since 2009. It makes for a high-stakes encounter.