RICHMOND and North Melbourne will face off for the final spot in the top four on Sunday, with Geelong also in the race for a double chance heading into the last day of the regular season.

Behind ladder-leaders Brisbane and Melbourne, the Tigers and Kangaroos have evolved into two of the most in-form teams in the competition.

The two will face each other at Arden St on Sunday afternoon, with the winner set to secure a double chance in the finals, although percentage could well determine the outcome.

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Geelong gave themselves a chance of taking fourth with their percentage-boosting win over Sydney on Saturday and currently sit in fourth spot on 28 points, with a percentage of 173.

The Tigers (currently 28 points, percentage of 154.7) will lock in a top-four spot with a victory and they could conceivably move as high as third if they win by a big enough margin to jump ahead of Adelaide, who currently have a percentage of 177.6 (22.9 ahead of the Tigers).

North, who currently sit in eighth spot, need to win and do so by a big enough margin to ensure their percentage (currently 175.7) doesn't drop below that of the Cats (173) in order to grab fourth.

It means the Cats will be hoping for a North victory, but not by too much, to grab fourth spot for themselves.

The Tigers have won seven straight in their "hot girl hot streak" (as coined by midfielder Grace Egan), while the Roos overwhelmed top-four aspirant and fierce rival Collingwood last week.

Canny recruiting from both sides has helped patch holes that have proven lethal in the past, while the intangible and immeasurable confidence is sky high at Arden Street and Punt Road.

The Roos have won all three matches between the pair, with an average margin of 36.7, but both sides have changed significantly both in personnel and game-style.

The story so far

North Melbourne is widely acknowledged to be the strongest of the non-inaugural clubs, coming into the competition in 2019.

The Roos nearly made finals in their first year, but the conference system cost them a deserved spot.

The following year was arguably North Melbourne's best chance, winning through to a preliminary final before the season was cancelled in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two first-week finals losses have followed, the most disappointing of which was last year's comprehensive thumping by Fremantle on the Roos' home deck.

Richmond came into the competition in 2020 and lost all six matches, subsequently changing coaches to Ryan Ferguson.

It took until the fifth match of the next season for the Tigers to record their first ever win, and 10th and 11th-placed finishes followed.

This season will mark Richmond's first finals appearance.

What's changed this season?

It's difficult to quantify, but the eye test would suggest North Melbourne is playing grittier footy.

For so long, the Kangaroos were an aesthetically pleasing team to watch, a team who valued holding possession to find the perfect path, but it was a style that was vulnerable to the elite pressure of teams like Brisbane, Adelaide and (last season's) Fremantle.

They're only averaging a handful of fewer kicks this season, but their handball numbers have dropped quite markedly, averaging 17 fewer in season seven.

At the same time, the Roos are averaging 9.2 more tackles in the second half of the year, and one more goal.

The Tigers' biggest change in fortune has come with points conceded, halving from 42.3 to 21.1.

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By contrast, their average score has actually dropped by two points, but simply put, they're no longer getting blown out of the water by the top sides.

Richmond has the lowest average disposal count of any top eight side, and is very efficient with its ball use – getting the footy and moving forward by any means necessary, which may ring a bell if you've watched the club's men's team at any point in the past six years.

In fact, the Tigers only average more kicks than GWS and Sydney, but are handball happy, sitting sixth overall.

So, who are the players who have contributed to the changes?

It's hard to miss North Melbourne recruit Vikki Wall.

The Irishwoman may have only got into Australia just three weeks before the season began, but she appears tailor-made for her new sport.

Playing a crucial linking role across centre-half forward, she's a powerful contested mark who's quick at ground level and can lay a crunching tackle.

North Melbourne parted ways with both Daria Bannister and Daisy Bateman in the off-season, and the taller Wall has been able to cover their forward pressure while also proving to be a strong marking target.

Draftee Taylah Gatt and former fringe player Amy Smith have done well, filling in Kaitlyn Ashmore's spot after she moved to Hawthorn, with Erika O'Shea slotting in at half-back following Aileen Gilroy's similar switch.

The Roos have been missing Ellie Gavalas (hamstring) for most of the season, but have simply given more inside time to Jenna Bruton and Mia King.

Tess Craven has locked down a role at half-forward after being drafted as an inside midfielder, while youngsters Bella Eddey and Alice O'Loughlin have grown in confidence as the season has progressed.

What about at Punt Road?

Richmond is similarly transformed, particularly in defence.

The Tigers produced the steal of the draft in 29-year-old Eilish Sheerin, who has been a revelation at half-back, which had proved to be a problem area in the past for the Tigers.

Katelyn Cox was also brought in through the draft. Having spent time as a midfielder on North Melbourne's list as an injury replacement player, she's been unleashed on the opposite half-back flank.

Former Giant Libby Graham was recruited to shore up the key defensive stocks, while Laura McClelland has performed admirably in a similar role in Bec Miller's injury-enforced absence, the tall utility playing with more assuredness as her game time increases.

A fully fit Courtney Wakefield has done wonders for the forward line, while youngster Stella Reid has bobbed up of late in the third tall role.

Meg Macdonald has improved out of sight, employed in various roles across the ground, the buzzing Emelia Yassir's pressure work in attack has been key, while Beth Lynch has harnessed her aggression and is a safe pair of hands in defence.

But perhaps the most important recruit was ex-Blue Egan (pithy phrase-work aside) whose tireless contested efforts in the midfield have helped superstar Monique Conti rise to a career-best season.