The Roos have not won a season opener since 2009, but facing  tough early games in 2015, Brad Scott's team knows it has to get out of the blocks quickly, starting with a crucial interstate test against  an emerging Adelaide.

From there, the Roos play 2014 finalists Port Adelaide (round three), Geelong (round four), Hawthorn (round five), Richmond (round six) and Fremantle (round eight).

All of which makes North's up-tempo performances in the NAB Challenge – that have included a 10-point loss to the Crows (Port Lincoln), a 13-point win over Hawthorn (Shepparton) and a 14-point victory over Richmond (Etihad) – more meaningful.

The Crows have looked re-energised under new coach Phil Walsh - backed by a healthier playing list and a stronger defensive edge – and defeated Port Adelaide last week to bounce back from a loss to Geelong.

"I think we've probably had a better pre-season in terms of getting better form a bit earlier in the season, than we have in previous years, with the way we've played in the NAB Challenge," Swallow said. "But apart from that, we haven't changed too many things.

"Adelaide have had a terrific pre-season as well and looking very strong so it's going to be a big contest.

"We didn't have a great performance the one and only time we played at Adelaide Oval last year so hopefully we can give a better account of ourselves and I've got confidence in the group and how we are travelling," Swallow said.

North's is the longest round-one losing streak, closely rivalled by Melbourne, which has not won a season opener since 2005 but secured a draw against Sydney in 2011.

North's last win in round one forms part of Melbourne's streak of sluggish starts, when the Dean Laidley-led Roos defeated Dean Bailey's Demons in 2009.

Another streak the Roos will be aiming to end is their away record against the Crows – North has not beaten Adelaide in Adelaide since 2003.

The Crows ran over the Roos by 36 points in round 13 last year at Adelaide Oval, and the Easter Sunday rematch is looming as a high-interest encounter between two teams predicted to have big upside.

For the Roos, 2015 is about taking the next step from top-four aspirant to legitimate premiership contender, while the Crows are seeking to reclaim a finals position having sacked former coach Brenton Sanderson in the belief the playing list was capable of more.

The expectation behind both teams could create a typical round-one let down for the loser, however Swallow said the Roos would not be sucked in to placing too much emotional importance on the game.

"You look at Sydney, they lost three out of four early last year and came back and made a grand final," he said.

"As a player, you try not to listen too much when you lose one first up because everyone tends to write off teams very early.

"We all build up round one and last year we lost to Essendon and it was a pretty bad loss. But we rebounded pretty strongly from that."

One key focus surrounding the Roos in the build-up to round one has been which and how many key position players from their deep roster will they take in against the Crows.

Key recruit Jarrad Waite has been marked to make his debut alongside and Drew Petrie, but the Roos coaching panel has a tough decision to make with fellow key forwards Aaron Black, Ben Brown and Majak Daw all pushing for selection.