North Melbourne AFL coach Brad Scott says his players have been on a knife’s edge for two months and Sunday’s clash with Essendon is just another mini-final for them on the road to September.

Scott’s Kangaroos have won seven of their past eight games and sit in seventh spot on the ladder with an 11-7 win-loss record, while eighth-placed Essendon are also on 44 points and trail by just 1.15 per cent.

With four rounds remaining in the home-and-away season, both sides are clinging to places in the eight amid pressure from ninth-placed Fremantle (44 points).

“Essendon are certainly treating it as a huge game. The ladder suggests that it is,” Scott told reporters on Thursday.

“We’ve been in the fortunate position for the last eight or so weeks where every game we’ve played has been critical to the ladder and to a potential finals spot.

“This game is just another one of those for us.

“Our club, our players, our coaches welcome the pressure that comes from a big game. It’s certainly going to be a great atmosphere at Etihad Stadium.

“It’s a big result for both teams. But it’s not foreign to us.”

North lost to Essendon by two points in round one and Scott says he’s seeking a win to get some joy for the club’s supporters against traditional rivals the Bombers.

“We probably treat it that way. I’m not sure they do,” Scott said.

“If you ask Essendon supporters, they’d probably have a few other clubs ahead of us in the pecking order there.

“Given the geographical proximity, it’s something our supporters always look forward to.

“If you think back to the late 1990s in particular with the North-Essendon rivalry, it’s always something our supporters really look forward to.

“We’re hoping to get some retribution for them for round one.”