Sydney's Barry Hall is suspended but that doesn't make things any easier for North Melbourne's Michael Firrito, who is facing a potential nightmare assignment on Adam Goodes.

Sunday's AFL clash at the SCG is shaping as a battle of the also-rans, with 11th-placed Sydney and the 13th-placed Kangaroos claiming only nine wins between them in the first 13 rounds and unlikely to reach the finals.

"I've played on Barry Hall. I've played a little bit through the midfield," Firrito told AAP on Thursday.

"I'm not sure who it will be.

"I've played on Adam Goodes at times, probably half-back and through a midfield role.

"He (Goodes) is a dual Brownlow Medallist and one of the greats of the game really.

"I'm not sure what his weaknesses are, where we can expose him. I don't think it's any one person who can stop Adam Goodes.

"It's down to the 22 blokes who play and the pressure all over the ground.

"Sydney are very good at that. We are pretty good at it too."

Firrito said the Swans would be capable of producing a winning score despite having seven-time leading goalkicker Hall serving a two-game ban for last week's hit on Adelaide fullback Ben Rutten.

"Patrick Veszpremi and Jesse White, they've played at AFL level before. I think Veszpremi was pretty good against us in a final last year, from memory," Firrito said.

"As good a player as Barry Hall is for them, they're still a strong side without him."

While the Swans (5-8 record) cling to their faint hopes of qualifying for a seventh successive finals campaign, the Kangaroos are already building towards next year.

Caretaker coach Darren Crocker has stepped up from the assistant-coaching role following Dean Laidley's resignation, leading North to a 22-point loss against third-placed Western Bulldogs last week in an encouraging performance.

"Crock has come in and the players are right behind him and enjoying it as much as we can," Firrito said.

"On the weekend we couldn't ask for anything more. The ball movement is starting to come along and there are some good positive signs for us.

"It's an exciting time for the club. Young players are getting their opportunities and they are looking really good too.

"We would much rather be in the top half of the ladder. It is a little bit frustrating.

"All the players have a very good working relationship with Crock. We've only had him for a fortnight so it's probably too early to tell everything that goes on."

North are keen to pursue high-profile candidates including former Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley as coach for 2010.

"As players we have full confidence in the board to choose the right man for the job and the footy club," Firrito said.

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