North Melbourne turned their 104-point humiliation against St Kilda earlier this season into a valuable AFL education.

Now the Kangaroos will find out just how well they learned their bitter lessons.

The Kangaroos are only half a game outside the top eight ahead of Sunday's Etihad Stadium twilight match against the third-placed Saints.

"We learned a lot out of that game, I thought that was a game this year we almost learned more from than any other," said coach Brad Scott.

"We got a genuine football lesson against a very well-structured, well-drilled side.

"We're certainly better prepared for St Kilda this time around, but they have their super players in really good form."

But Scott wants North to show much more than an improvement against the Saints this Sunday.

It has become Scott's mantra over the last few weeks that he does not care about North making the finals - he wants them to show they can be a competitive finals side.

"We have a great opportunity to show we deserve to be in that top-eight range of sides - at the moment, we haven't proved that," Scott said.

"If we fail miserably, then all we've proven is we deserve to be ninth or 10th."

North belted fifth-placed Fremantle last weekend, but the match before they faded badly against the Western Bulldogs.

The Saints, like the Bulldogs, are a cut above Fremantle and are a genuine top-four side.

"If we can get over this one, we give ourselves a real chance (of making the finals)," Scott said.

"We get a chance to prove our credentials, I suppose, as to whether we're worthy finalists or not.

"Our destiny is in our own hands."

For the second straight week, North have received a boost with the opposition's No.1 ruckman ruled out through injury.

Last week it was likely All-Australian ruckman Aaron Sandilands, now Saints mainstay Michael Gardiner has a hamstring injury.

"He's really important to them, Gardiner, not just in the stoppages but the way he covers the ground as well, so it's a big out for them," Scott said.

"But they have plenty of talls to cover that."

Saints coach Ross Lyon said he is unsure whether to play two ruckmen or bring in an extra running player, but Scott has little doubt about their likely ruck tactics.

He predicts they will bring in Adam Pattison, who would share the ruck duties 50-50 with Ben McEvoy or perhaps Justin Koschitzke.

"I'd suggest the structure that has worked for them so well for the last two years, they won't go too far away from," Scott said.

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