NORTH Melbourne players are determined to prove they're no pushovers when they take on the Sydney Swans on Saturday night, says Roos defender Scott Thompson.
 
The Kangaroos were embarrassed by the Swans in last year’s preliminary final clash, losing by 71 points in an uncompetitive performance at ANZ Stadium.
 
But the Roos, buoyed by a confidence-boosting, against-the-odds win over West Coast in Hobart last round, are desperate for some redemption at Etihad Stadium.
 
"It's a huge game for us. Especially after what happened to us last time - they smashed us - so we're excited for the game, but we want to really prove ourselves," Thompson told SEN radio station.
 
"It's been mentioned (among the players) in the meetings a few times. We were all so disappointed from the end of last year, so it's still firing in us that we want to prove ourselves from that last time we played them."
 
North (5-5) got its season back on track with the win over the Eagles, but has been found wanting against top teams from last year, losing heavily to Hawthorn (60 points) and Fremantle (73).
 
Thompson said the Roos have done their homework on the second-placed Swans (8-2) but were unlikely to review the preliminary final.
 
"We definitely go over a few of their games, but not from last year. We've had a look at them and seen what they've been doing a bit differently to last year," Thompson said.
 
The All Australian defender is likely to get a job standing high-priced Swans forwards Kurt Tippett or Lance Franklin.
 
The big men combined for nine goals in the preliminary final triumph and have bagged 49 between them so far in 2015.