NORTH Melbourne assistant coach Darren Bewick says his side can still play finals this year, despite currently sitting in 10th.

The Roos face Port Adelaide, Collingwood, Melbourne and Brisbane in the next four weeks, and Bewick said the team should win them all.

"I'd say the next month is going to be critical in what happens for the rest of the year," he said. "We are capable of winning every game (of the four), without doubt.

"If we go into the game fully switched on and playing to instructions and doing the things that we know we do well, then we know that we're competitive against any team, and these four weeks are crucial for that.

"We're aiming to play finals, there is a spot there for us, and I think it's up to the players to really step up now, take the bit between the teeth, and really show what they want to do for the rest of the year.

"The next four weeks are crucial for them to do that."

The Roos had a topsy-turvy month leading into the break – a narrow loss to Geelong, belted by Fremantle, a superb win over Hawthorn and a bad loss to St Kilda, and Bewick said the break almost certainly came at a good time for the club.

"It's probably a hard question because we've been a little bit inconsistent in our recent form, but I think just in general, for the group, it's come at a good time.

"We've played a lot of young blokes this year, and mentally and physically it takes a lot out of them, so it's probably a good time for them to freshen up and really go 100 miles-an-hour for the last eight weeks of the year."