WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Sunday May 27, 1.10pm
LAST TIME: North Melbourne 17.20 (122) d Brisbane Lions 11.11 (77), round 18, 2011 at Etihad Stadium
TV, RADIO AND BETTING: Click here for broadcast guide and odds

A couple of rounds ago, North Melbourne would have started almost unbackable favourites against the Brisbane Lions on its home ground, Etihad Stadium. However, the Kangaroos' credentials have taken a massive hit after their round seven loss to the Western Bulldogs and last Saturday's final-quarter meltdown against Port Adelaide. North is now 12th on the ladder, just two spots and percentage ahead of the Lions. The Lions' three wins in 2012 have come against the bottom three teams, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney, but their 92-point demolition of the Giants last Sunday was impressive. Significantly, the Lion who has troubled North more than any other over the past decade, skipper Jonathan Brown, kicked his first five-goal haul since 2010, against the Giants.

THE FOUR POINTS

NORTH MELBOURNE
1. How will North respond to its devastating loss to Port Adelaide? After leading by 32 points at the eight-minute mark of the final quarter, the Kangaroos did not score again as the Power piled on five goals to snatch a scarcely believable two-point win. As flat as the loss left everyone at Aegis Park, the Roos must pick themselves up against the Lions or a season that looked so promising after their round three win against Geelong will be effectively over.

2. North dominated the inside 50 count 60-42 against the Power, but took just nine marks inside its forward 50 compared to Port's 11. Too often, the Kangaroos kicked the ball long into a crowded forward line, while the Power were able to pinpoint Jay Schulz on the lead five times. North will be keen to ensure it is less predictable entering attack against the Lions and uses any open targets.

3. Lions skipper Brown has dominated North over the past decade. In 15 games against North since 2001, Brown has kicked 50 goals at an average of 3.3 goals a game (his career average is 2.4 goals) and averaged 8.8 marks (career average 7.3). Brown has averaged more scoring shots against the Kangaroos (5.8 a game) than any other team.

4. In one of the few times in his 331-game career, former North skipper Brent Harvey is coming off consecutive quiet performances. Well held by Western Bulldog Liam Picken and Port's Kane Cornes over the past two rounds, Harvey will be desperate to return to form against the Lions.

BRISBANE LIONS
1. Just where are the Lions really at? It might be odd to be posing this question after eight rounds, but the Lions have lost to five teams clearly a class above them, and beaten the three opponents they were expected to. The Kangaroos appear a team in the same ballpark as the Lions and will give Michael Voss a better idea of whether his men have improved or not.
 
2. It may have been against the inexperienced Giants, but the combined 12 goals and 28 marks of Brown and vice-captain Daniel Merrett will have them oozing confidence. Teams often preach a spread of goalkickers, but the Lions need their two-pronged attack to kick goals to be a chance of winning.
 
3. Todd Banfield's foot injury opened the door for Dayne Zorko and Josh Green last Sunday and both grabbed their opportunities with open arms. Switching between small forward and midfield roles, both men had 18 disposals and combined for eight tackles. They were terriers in the forward half and Voss will be hoping for more of the same against North.
 
4. Matt Maguire is quietly getting back to his best form but will face a stiff test marking Drew Petrie this weekend. Maguire has cemented the Lions' full-back spot since Merrett's move forward and, other than a six-goal burst by Geelong's Tom Hawkins in round five, has regularly beaten his man. Petrie has often given the Lions headaches and this match-up could go a long way towards deciding the result.

AFL.com.au prediction: North Melbourne by 27 points

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL