North Melbourne coach David Noble says his youthful Kangaroos will embrace the tough AFL challenge of heading down the highway to face Geelong.
The Kangaroos are winless but were spirited against Adelaide before ultimately slipping to a 41-point loss last week.
Despite an up-and-down start to the year, Geelong will be heavy favourites at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday - but Noble said his team would learn from the experience.
"Every week's a challenge for us at the moment," Noble said.
"We look forward to driving down the highway and taking on a grand finalist from last year - it's great for our young group to have those experiences."
"If we can capture some of that form that we had again last week and sustain it for longer periods, - then that's obviously what we'd like to see.
"... They're a renowned top-level performer, regular finalist. That's who we need to pitch ourselves against to see where we're legitimately at."
Geelong won't risk Jeremy Cameron (hamstring) but Patrick Dangerfield and Gary Rohan will return from suspension while Brandan Parfitt (hip) could join them after he was a late withdrawal against Melbourne.
The Kangaroos have been ravaged by injury with reigning best and fairest Luke McDonald (pectoral surgery) and young forward Cameron Zurhaar (concussion) joining the likes of Robbie Tarrant, Jared Polec, Jed Anderson and Aidan Corr on the sidelines.
But they received a boost earlier in the week when Ben Cunnington successfully appealed a one-match suspension for rough conduct at the AFL tribunal.
"Cunnington's going to help them - they're not the same team without him in it, and (Todd) Goldstein, those guys that have been around for a while (are important)," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.
"They're missing a few - guys like Tarrant that really strengthen their backline.
"But their young talent's what we need to be concerned about as much as anything - (Jy) Simpkin in the middle and (Bailey) Scott as a half-forward."
