Heading into a game at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), there will always be talk of the Swans’ home ground advantage and style of play on the much smaller oval.

The dimensions of the SCG are different to any other AFL ground. Quite comfortably the shortest in length at only 149 metres, it suits Sydney's contested-style game well.

In the Swans’ eight games at the SCG last season, there was an average of almost 87 clearances per match. Compare that to its five games in Melbourne in 2011 and it dips to less than 73. With a combined inside 50 rate very similar at home and in Melbourne (105.4 to 102.6), it indicates those extra clearances take part in the middle of the SCG.

North Melbourne has often been spoken of as having 'too many' inside midfielders, yet it will need a supreme effort from all players at the stoppages to gain the upper hand. A promising sign from Round 10 last year at Etihad Stadium is North won the clearances by 12.

That was a typical game for Sydney, as it has struggled when playing away from the SCG and is lured into a more open, free-flowing game. Only one win out of its last 14 matches at the MCG highlights this.

Sydney's brigade of young midfielders makes for a tantalising match up against a similarly youthful North Melbourne side with the quartet of Daniel Hannebery, Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy and Kieren Jack against Jack Ziebell, Ryan Bastinac, Andrew Swallow and Ben Cunnington.

Kennedy in particular is someone the North Melbourne match committee will be spending a lot of time on. The former Hawk was traded to Sydney after two years and only 13 games, yet at the Swans he has developed into arguably their form midfielder. A threat both inside and outside, his well rounded game sees him leading the AFL coaches votes with a perfect 30 after three rounds.

One could argue Kieren Jack is the best tagger in the competition. Whichever Roo finds himself with Jack at his side will have to work extra hard to still have an influence on the game. After Brent Harvey ran rampant against Geelong, he might be the one who is targeted.

Surprisingly for a player wearing the famous number four, Hannebery has been slipping under the radar. A team high 36 possessions with 21 handballs has more similarities to the way North has started the season compared to the Swans. The Roos currently lead the league in handballs and total possessions.

Because of its small size, a high possession game at the SCG is an extremely risky strategy. Earlier in the week, Jack Ziebell said North has multiple game styles. Given the difference between playing Sydney at the SCG to playing Geelong at Etihad Stadium, this Sunday could see a shift away from the ‘handball-happy’ Kangaroos evident in the first three rounds.

Despite North’s blistering start to the year on the scoreboard, averaging 139-points per game, no opposition has scored more than 112-points in Sydney's last 56 games at the SCG. The astounding statistic perfectly illustrates Sydney's ability to have the opposition playing into its hands and from there, they can control the tempo of the game perfectly.

As with most matches each week, the contest will be won by the side who is able to play on its terms. If North can limit the amount of stoppages around the ground, it will go a long way to winning at the SCG.