CATS V KANGAROOS

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 7.50pm

RECENT RECORD: Geelong 8 North 2. IN 2014: R19 – Geelong 16.15 (111) def North 10.19 (79) at Docklands. R10 – Geelong 16.15 (111) def North 13.13 (91) at Geelong.

LAST WEEK: QF Geelong 10.8 (68) lost to Hawthorn 15.14 (104). EF North 14.9 (93) def Essendon 12.9 (81). BUILD-UP: Geelong is gunning for a third win over North this season, but creative Cats pair Steve Johnson (foot) and Allen Christensen (back) were both yesterday scratched from the line-up due to injury, which is a major blow to their chances. The Roos welcome back veteran Brent Harvey and are now just one key defender (Lachie Hansen, hip) off being at full strength.

RUNNING HOT: Geelong: Losing ruckman Hamish McIntosh (knee) could be a blessing with Mark Blicavs (20 disposals, one goal last week) having the athleticism to run lumbering Kangaroos big man Todd Goldstein off his feet. Oh, Joel Selwood (31 disposals, three goals, three goal-assists) has been pretty good too. North: Levi Greenwood has flown under the radar in the middle, gathering 32 touches last week and team-high tallies of 25 and 33 in games against the Cats this season.

UNDER THE PUMP: Geelong: Tom Hawkins (one goal last week) will want to snaffle a few grabs this week, but will have Scott Thompson breathing down his neck. Josh Walker and Mitch Brown will need to take some pressure off the Cats spearhead. North: Down the other end, Roo talls Ben Brown (four goals last week) and Drew Petrie may find the going a little tougher against Harry Taylor, Tom Lonergan and Jared Rivers than against Essendon.

FINAL WORD: History is against North, which will be attempting to become just the second elimination final victor since 2001 to have progressed to a preliminary final. Geelong might just have enough finals experience to survive one more week.