The GIANTS face North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium this Saturday in a crucial match, the result of which could see the GIANTS finish anywhere from first to seventh on the ladder. 

With that in mind here are some stats that could ultimately be the difference between the two sides once the final siren sounds. 

The GIANTS backline will need to be on their toes and ready to commit to the contest, with the Kangaroos strong in the air. 

North Melbourne took 24 contested marks a fortnight ago against Hawthorn – the most by any side in a game this year – with Majak Daw, Drew Petrie, Jack Ziebell, Michael Firrito, Robbie Tarrant and Lachie Hansen all strong in this area. 

North Melbourne exploits this strength and is ranked second in the competition for lead up marks and third for contested marks inside their forward fifty. 

Forward Ben Brown is especially dangerous for North Melbourne, ranked seventh in the AFL for contested marks this year. 

The GIANTS must also be mindful of Kangaroos ruckman Todd Goldstein creeping forward and hitting the scoreboard; the 28-year-old has kicked a career-high 18 goals this season. 

The last time the two teams met Goldstein won an AFL record 80 hit-outs however, the GIANTS were without Shane Mumford who is in fine form heading into this contest. 

The GIANTS midfielders will need to be on their toes around the stoppages with the Kangaroos boasting a solid contested ball team. 

Ben Cunnington, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell and Daniel Wells are dangerous around the congested ball especially inside their forward 50, with North Melbourne ranked second in AFL for goals from forward 50 stoppages. 

While the Kangaroos are known for scoring from forward 50 stoppages, they aren’t as well versed at scoring from inside 50 entries as the GIANTS are. 

The GIANTS rank first for overall in the AFL for inside 50s ahead of North Melbourne in tenth, while the GIANTS are second in scoring from inside 50s compared to the Kangaroos sitting in ninth.

Meanwhile the GIANTS forward who finds himself starting alongside Tarrant will need to be at their best. 

Tarrant is in a very rich vein of form and has lost just one of his last 24 one-on-one contests. 

A big positive the GIANTS can take into the game is that no one has won more quarters of football than them in 2016. 

The GIANTS have won 59 quarters - including 14 final terms - compared to the Kangaroos 44, including 11 fourth quarters. 

The GIANTS play North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, August 27^st at 7.25PM AEST.