North Melbourne skipper Andrew Swallow says the side’s best chance of taking four points from Sunday’s match against Fremantle is to win the stoppages and spread.

The Roos sit 13th on the AFL ladder, but they have lost a series of tight matches against the best sides in the competition.

Swallow said on the club's website nmfc.com.au that North Melbourne was well aware of what it was coming up against at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.

“It’s a tough one because you know they (Freo) are going to strangle you,” he said.

“They’re a top four side and they’ve done that for most of the year without (Aaron) Sandilands and (Matthew) Pavlich.

“They’re just really well drilled and well disciplined.”

Swallow said the Roos would aim to utilise their pace on Patersons’ wide expanses.

“We just have to make sure we can win the footy inside on them and try and spread,” he said.

“Subiaco is a big ground and we have a lot of runners in our team, so if we can get it on the outside and spread them a bit, that might be key for us to win.”

The North captain said the side’s recent trip to Perth, when it was beaten by a Nic Naitanui goal after the siren, would give it belief this weekend.

“We got a lot of confidence knowing that we pushed West Coast right to the end and that we could of pinched that game,” Swallow said.

“We’ll be looking to get back out there again and really give Freo a run for their money because they are a really good side.”