North Melbourne will make the AFL finals for the first time since 2008 this year - only if they deserve to, says coach Brad Scott.

Their destiny could well be determined on Saturday night, when the 10th-placed Kangaroos take on ninth-placed Fremantle at Etihad Stadium, amid a wide open race for the last spot in the top eight.

North play fellow finals aspirants St Kilda the following week and end the home-and-away season against Richmond.

With their fate largely in their own hands, Scott said his players understood the importance of the final three rounds.

And he is comfortable the team's eventual ladder position will tell the exact story of their year.

"We've just got to hold up our end of the bargain. Our performances over the next three weeks will leave us where it leaves us, and that's probably where we'll deserve to finish," Scott said.

"They (the players) know the importance of it. We know that internally we've improved as a side.

"I think the players know that with a little added polish, we can get the job done against those good sides, and Fremantle's another one of those."

North's players were given time off around their bye last weekend - Scott concerned that playing 17 matches in a row might be taking its toll on a relatively young outfit.

Scott flagged blooding yet another teenager against the Dockers, with 19-year-old rookie-listed defender Aaron Mullett set to debut.

Mullett has been starring at reserves level, and North promoted him off the rookie list on Wednesday to allow him to play.

"He's given the match committee no option but to pick him, which is the way it should be," Scott said.

"It's a high pressure game and a game we've got to win, but I just think it goes to show the confidence we've got in Aaron."

Defender Nathan Grima will also return after spending time in the reserves regaining fitness following his injury-wrecked season.

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