New North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson will watch the Kangaroos attempt to avoid the AFL wooden spoon from the couch.
After the "circus" surrounding his eagerly-anticipated decision, Clarkson will take a back seat as caretaker coach Leigh Adams leads the Kangaroos for the final time on Saturday.
Buoyed by securing the signature of the four-time premiership coach, North will jump above West Coast into 17th on the ladder if they defeat Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium in their final home-and-away game of the season.
The Kangaroos have endured a tumultuous period, with Clarkson their fourth full-time coach in five years, and are assured of their third straight bottom-two finish.
But North and Clarkson are hopeful the clash with the Suns will be the start of a promising new period for the club.
"'Patch' (Adams) has done a wonderful job in difficult circumstances, it's never easy to be an interim coach," Clarkson said on Friday.
"I'm officially not starting until November 1, although the brain is going to be ticking.
"Hopefully today's announcement will also recharge the batteries for a lot of them to say there's a new chapter about to begin at the football club."
North president Sonja Hood invited Clarkson to watch his new team at Docklands but declined the offer.
"It all becomes part of this do I want to be the centre of attention and take the focus off the playing group and 'Patch', (Adams)" Clarkson said.
"The preference would be to take a back seat and watch it on the telly from my farm down on the Mornington Peninsula and then pick it up with the club at a later time."
North have recalled five players, including axed No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis, for the clash with the Suns.
Horne-Francis was dropped for last week's trip to Adelaide after failing to complete an ice bath amid speculation he could request a trade away from the Kangaroos after just one season.
The 19-year-old was an intent onlooker at Arden St on Friday for Clarkson's first press conference as North coach.
