NORTH Melbourne's decision to play two taggers since its round 12 bye does not represent a shift to a more defensive philosophy, Roos coach Brad Scott says.

North recalled Levi Greenwood for his first game in 12 months against Fremantle in round 13, teaming him with fellow run-with player Taylor Hine.

Greenwood and former Sun Hine have proved an effective tag team, their best performance coming last Saturday when they respectively shut down Richmond midfield stars Trent Cotchin and Brett Deledio.

Scott acknowledged the Roos' defensive pressure needed work in the wake of its fadeout loss to Adelaide in round nine. 

But the North coach said on Thursday the Greenwood-Hine pairing had primarily come about because both were in form. 

"There's no doubt in the philosophy you want to take away the opposition's main strengths but you've got to be able to have the players that are capable of doing that," Scott said. 

"I think taggers are underrated in our game. If you spoke to 17 coaches at the moment, I'm sure they'd love to have Ross Lyon's situation when he's got Ryan Crowley to go to every week. 

"Taylor Hine and Levi Greenwood are really working out their craft and they were good last week. But there are going to be constant challenges for those two guys coming up. 

"The thing about using a tagger (is) you've got to make sure they can do the job for you. The two boys have been doing it well the last couple of weeks."

Greenwood had not played since round 12 last season before earning his recall against Fremantle.

It was a dramatic fall from grace for a player who had been an automatic selection when fit from 2009-2011. 

But Scott said Greenwood's attitude during his time out of North's senior team had been fantastic.

"It can be really demoralising at times and Levi has been playing really good footy at VFL level for a long time without getting an opportunity," Scott said. 

"So it's very easy to become disillusioned and demoralised, but Levi's done everything we've asked him to do and my message to him has been, 'When your opportunity comes you just make sure you're ready to take it'. 

"Sometimes opportunities don't come and you've just got to persist. But when the opportunity comes you've got to take it with both hands and he's done that the last couple of weeks." 

North takes on the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night at the Gabba, a game it must win to keep its faint finals hopes alive.

Scott suggested Majak Daw was unlikely to earn a recall after suffering a heavy knock playing for Werribee in the Foxtel Cup on Tuesday night. 

However, Scott said Daw's Werribee teammate Scott McMahon would be considered for selection after the Roos carefully managed his game time on Tuesday night. 

Scott praised Lions ruckman Matthew Leuenberger, saying his duel with Todd Goldstein would be one of the crucial battles of Saturday night's clash.