MATCH DETAILS
North Melbourne v Collingwood at Telstra Dome, 7.40pm, Friday, July 18

FORECAST
Showers, Minimum: 9, Maximum: 14

BETTING
Collingwood $1.42, North Melbourne $2.75

LAST TIME THEY MET
North Melbourne 16.16 (112) d Collingwood 15.15 (105), round five, 2008 at the MCG

FORM GUIDE
Both sides have similar form going into this game, and that form has been scratchy under analysis. Both North Melbourne and Collingwood have shown an ability to lift for the big games and tough challenges, but also to lose or struggle against the lesser lights.

The Roos have beaten Hawthorn, the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood, and went within 15 points of Geelong. However, they almost dropped their game against Port Adelaide last round and have slipped up against Fremantle, Essendon and St Kilda.

Similarly, Collingwood has beaten Geelong, Sydney and Adelaide and went close to the Western Bulldogs, but has lost twice to Carlton.

All that points to this clash being a genuine blockbuster. If their last meeting in round five is anything to go by, it should be a tight contest that could go either way. In that game North Melbourne sneaked away with a narrow seven-point win.

MEDICAL ROOM
Collingwood’s Brodie Holland (achilles) is out for at least another two weeks, while Irish rookie-listed player Kevin Dyas (hamstring) will miss 4-5 weeks. Ben Reid (foot) and Anthony Rocca (ankle) are out for 5-7 weeks, while Brad Dick (knee) and Sean Rusling (shoulder) are out for the season.

The Kangaroos will be without Aaron Edwards (leg), Hamish McIntosh (knee) and Jesse Smith (hamstring) for the next four weeks, while Leigh Adams (knee) and Nathan Grima (knee) are out for the season.

RANDOM FACTS

• North Melbourne has won more games in total since 1993 than any other side in the competition.

• North Melbourne has only won 32.1 per cent of its matches against Collingwood, the Roos' worst record against any team in the competition.
• When these sides met in round five this year, Paul Medhurst kicked five goals and Josh Fraser kicked four.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Rhyce Shaw v Daniel Pratt
Last time these two sides met, Rhyce Shaw played on the half-forward flank and was able to set up a lot of Collingwood’s forward thrusts, taking the ball inside 50 five times. Pratt will be relieved to be playing this week after facing the AFL Tribunal, and could match up on the dangerous Pie again if Collingwood chooses to play him forward.

Dane Swan v Brady Rawlings
Swan is Collingwood’s No.1 ball winner and will face one of the competition's best stoppers this week in Brady Rawlings. Last time these sides met, Swan was held to just 20 possessions, a key factor in stopping Collingwood’s attacking thrusts.

Heath Shaw v David Hale
Heath Shaw was kept well away from the action last time these sides met, so he may find himself playing a more standard defensive role on Hale this time, to nullify one of North’s important forwards.

WHAT THE CLUBS SAY

Collingwood
“We were in control of the game last time we played North Melbourne and it was disappointing to lose - we took our foot off the pedal when we were in control.
”After that game we learned the importance of a four-quarter performance against a side that is of real competitive quality.

“North Melbourne’s small forwards are the key. We know their midfield is very solid but their smaller forwards are capable of kicking multiple goals.

“We know that they kick more goals from ground level than most other sides in the league. A lot of other sides rely on marking power but the Roos are happy for the ball to hit the ground in their forward line.” – Brad Scott, assistant coach.

North Melbourne
"It's a huge game for our club. We only get two Friday night games a year and we need to make the most of them.

"We have over 34,000 members and we need them behind us. It would be great to have a crowd of over 50,000 people." – Adam Simpson, captain.