Richmond coach Damien Hardwick knows how North Melbourne feel.

Having been on the receiving end of several narrow, heartbreaking losses last season, Hardwick is wary of what North are capable of – and conscious the Kangaroos are in many ways a 2013 version of the 2012 Tigers.

“I think we’re both similar clubs which have followed the same path in a way,” Hardwick said on Thursday.

“We started at a relatively similar time, me and Brad. Both teams have been going head-to-head and like-for-like and it’s a contest we look forward to.”

North have lost four matches by less than a goal this season, and six by less than 16 points.

Their 5-8 win-loss record belies their quality, according to Hardwick, who spent much of Thursday addressing North’s scoring power with his players ahead of their clash on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.

“They can score heavily and that’s the thing we went through today – they can really get up and going,” Hardwick said.

“They’re a good side, they just haven’t had a couple of results play their way. They could quite easily be where we’re sitting.”

The Tigers are on the precipice of a top four spot, having won four in a row on their way to a 9-4 record which puts them within sight of their first finals appearance since 2001.

Richmond’s Shaun Grigg and hardman Jake King will play their 100th AFL matches against the Kangaroos.

But Hardwick will again be without ruckman Ivan Maric, who will at least miss this week after a groin problem flared late last week to rule him out of the Tigers’ big win over St Kilda.

“The big thing for him is just getting his body right – we’re just going to have to keep strengthening that core area,” Hardwick said.

“Every year around this time of year, he’s going to need a couple of weeks off to get the remainder of his year up and going.

“He’ll be fine – next week he should be available to play.”

It means the Tigers will use Orren Stephenson and Ty Vickery in tandem against North’s ruck star Todd Goldstein.