FORM GUIDE
Home wins against Geelong and Gold Coast in the past few weeks might not have altered the Lions’ ladder position significantly, but they have certainly helped generate a greater sense of belief around the Gabba.

In fact, the Lions have shown signs of considerable improvement since the Round 11 Bye, despite suffering away losses to Fremantle and Hawthorn – both of whom are among the premiership favourites.

One thing the Lions haven’t been able to achieve so far this season is back-to-back wins.

North Melbourne, meanwhile, find themselves right back in Finals contention following comprehensive wins over Greater Western Sydney (76 points) and Richmond (62 points) in the past fortnight.

The Kangaroos have already shown they can match it with the best in the business, but have been terribly unlucky given four of their losses have come by 10 points or less.

They will also be buoyed by the fact they disposed of the Lions relatively easily in their most recent meeting at Etihad Stadium.

SELECTION TABLE
Not much activity at the selection table this week, with the Lions making just the one change – replacing the injured Brent Moloney with James Polkinghorne.

The Kangaroos have rewarded the side that dominated Richmond last week by naming an unchanged line-up.

KEY MATCH-UPS
The battle of the big men in the centre will be worth the price of admission alone.

Matthew Leuenberger is arguably in career-best form and fresh from a Marcus Ashcroft Medal-winning performance against the Gold Coast, and will go head-to-head with Kangaroos counterpart Todd Goldstein.

Both ruckmen are 25 years old – having been born less than one month apart – and are recognised among the best of their trade in the AFL.

Their duals will be something to behold, both this Saturday night, and in the future.

Aaron Black has been a revelation for North Melbourne this season, kicking 21 goals (third most at the Club) and proving a valuable third tall option alongside Drew Petrie and Robbie Tarrant.

Joel Patfull seems an ideal match-up for Black, given they are almost on equal standing in terms of height and weight.    

PLAYERS TO WATCH
With arguably the Lions’ two best clearance winners (Brent Moloney and Simon Black) sidelined through injury, James Polkinghorne may be given further responsibility in the midfield.

Polkinghorne offers another big body to the Lions’ midfield, and has proven earlier this year that he is capable of performing the role.

He collected a career-best 30 disposals against Melbourne back in Round 5, and had six clearances against West Coast when he was thrust into the centre.

For the Roos, 35-year-old Brent Harvey is still one of their most influential players.

Harvey was serving a six match suspension when the two sides last met back in Round 4, but has since returned to average 21.5 disposals per game (second best the club) and kick a total of 14 goals (ranked fourth at the club).

Like the Lions’ own Black, age does not seem to weary the North Melbourne champion.

MISSING IN ACTION
Black and Moloney might be the only notable absentees from the Lions’ side, but they will be sorely missed. In fact, it will be the first time the Lions have been without both of their clearance specialists in a match this season.

The Kangaroos boast arguably the most settled side in the competition, having used just 32 different players throughout the season – the lowest in the AFL – 12 of which have played in every match.

Although North Melbourne’s injury list is almost non-existent, they will be without their leading goal-kicker Lindsay Thomas, who is serving the final week of a two-match suspension.

Thomas was one of the Roos’ best when the two sides last met, kicking four goals from 20 disposals in a near-perfect small forward display.

He also managed to get under the skin of Pearce Hanley, who copped a week’s ban for a behind-the-play incident.

RECENT HISTORY
The Lions and North Melbourne have quite an even history, despite the fact the Kangaroos have been victorious in their past two outings.

Since the 1997 merger, the two sides have faced each other 27 times, with the ledger square at 13 apiece and one draw. Six of those matches have been decided by 10 points or less.

The Lions have held the ascendency at the Gabba, however, with the Roos yet to return from Brisbane with a win since Round 10 of 2005.