Brad Scott wants to keep the good AFL times rolling with an unchanged North Melbourne team this weekend.
The unbeaten Kangaroos head north to play Gold Coast on Saturday, with defender Robbie Tarrant the chief barrier.
The 26-year-old’s ankle complaint has him touch and go to face the Suns, irrespective of the team Scott names for the match.
Scott said the important big man “should” board the flight to Queensland and give him the chance to play the same side two rounds in a row for the first time this year.
“He’s got to get through a training session (but) all indications are good,” he said on Thursday.
“I doubt we’ll make any changes but we’ve certainly got a lot of options that we’ll talk through.
“As the cliche goes, it’s hard to change a winning team.
“The guys that are out there are performing for us and doing the job.”
North, unbeaten in the first four rounds, took top spot on the ladder with their impressive 31-point victory on Sunday night over Fremantle.
To soar to 5-0, they’ll need to overcome bogey side Gold Coast.
The Suns have won their past three outings with Scott’s side, including the two most-recent trips to Metricon Stadium.
In the Kangaroos’ favour is the loss of key backmen Rory Thompson (ankle) and Steven May (suspension).
But Scott said while others considered them “pretty significant omissions”, he wouldn’t be fooled.
“The expansion clubs, they just tend to bring in new first-round draft picks,” he said.
“They’ve got a production line of them.
“Their NEAFL team won by 108 points on the weekend so I don’t think they’re scraping the barrel for depth.”
The Roos have already taken one victory from Queensland this season – a round-two defeat of Brisbane – and Scott believes it will hold them in good stead against the Suns, even though he rates them as a formidable threat.
“They’ve got a lot of capability and really back themselves,” he said.
“Charlie Dixon kicked seven last time. Gary Ablett got his usual 30 (disposals) and two or three goals.
“But we’re a vastly different team to the teams that have taken on Gold Coast in the past. It’s going to be a challenge – it’s one we’re looking forward to.”
