Having lost to two of the AFLW heavyweights, flag-chasing North Melbourne are keen on snuffing out three-time premiership side Adelaide.
Sitting in second spot, the high-flying Kangaroos have demolished lower-ranked sides in their rampage to the finals, but have choked in their meetings against former flag winners Brisbane and Melbourne.
The defending premiers easily picked apart the Kangaroos across the field last round, diminishing the strong North Melbourne chorus to a hushed whisper.
Darren Crocker’s side face another test of character on Sunday, going head-to-head with Adelaide at Norwood Oval in the penultimate round of the season.
North have only won one out of five meetings against the Crows, handing Adelaide a 42-point drubbing in Hobart.
With the Kangaroos eager to prove they can take it to the best in the competition, defender Erika O’Shea believes the 23-point loss to Melbourne will only help in their crusade against the Crows.
“It was obviously a very tough loss, but it’s the best thing that could have happened to us,” O’Shea told AAP.
“We had training last night and the intensity was huge. It was maybe a kick that we needed.
“Playing Adelaide at their home ground is going to be the toughest trip that we’re going to make in this competition.”
Rattled by a three-point loss to Brisbane last weekend, the Crows have also found themselves on the back foot.
The Lions handed them their first loss of the season, resulting in the Crows slipping from top spot to third on the ladder.
Conquering the league’s most prolific midfielders in Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell will be no easy feat, but young Crow Sarah Goodwin remains confident Adelaide haven’t lost touch with a potential fourth premiership.
“Year by year, you can see the growth in the game, but it’s really exciting for Adelaide to still be one of the best teams in the competition,” Goodwin told AAP.
“We know we can match it with the best, as we did against Melbourne a couple of rounds ago when we beat them.
“It’s just going back to basics. We lacked pressure in the second quarter against Brisbane and that’s really what cost us in the end.”
Melbourne kick off Saturday’s action when they take on 13th-placed Fremantle, and Brisbane make the interstate trip to play St Kilda.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Essendon will attempt to secure their top-eight spot when they clash with Carlton, West Coast play their first game under caretaker coach Rohan McHugh against the winless Western Bulldogs, and Richmond face Geelong.
Sydney play their last home game at Henson Park against sixth-placed Collingwood on Sunday, before Hawthorn and Port Adelaide close out the weekend action.
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