Dean Laidley has put any distractions associated with extending his coaching future at North Melbourne to one side and focused all his energies into securing the Kangaroos a finals berth this weekend.
The Roos can assure a place in September if they can overcome a tricky assignment against Carlton at Telstra Dome on Sunday.
But the week at Arden Street has been dominated by talks of Laidley, 41, extending his tenure at North Melbourne.
After contract negotiations were played out in the press last year, the coach didn't add fuel to the fire at Kangaroos headquarters on Thursday morning.
"I haven't spoken to the club and they haven't spoken to me or (manager) Ricky (Nixon)," Laidley said.
"I just think it's important for everyone at the footy club to focus on what we are doing now."
"If we can complete our task this weekend we play in a finals series. I think right now that's what the coaches and players should be focusing on."
Laidley revealed he had met with club chairman James Brayshaw and chief executive officer Eugene Arocca this week.
"Things will or won't get sort out but my main concern is winning games of footy right now," he said.
Regarding the on-field front, Laidley may be without struggling key forward Nathan Thompson.
The 30-year-old has an ankle issue and faces a race against time to be fit for the clash with the improving Blues.
Adam Simpson will resume after a hip complaint sidelined him for the past fortnight, Laidley assured, while Hamish McIntosh is in line to return after he injured a knee in Round 12.
"He (McIntosh) is one guy that we've really spoken about. At the end of the day it will probably be a medical decision but the coach is pretty keen for him to play," Laidley said of McIntosh.
The Blues and Roos haven't met since Round 21 last season, so Laidley said a solid recent record - North has won nine of the past 11 matches with Carlton - didn't mean a thing.
"I wouldn't imagine any records or past games will have anything to do with it. They are a completely different side to anything we've come up against in previous Carlton sides."
"They've got a different coaching panel, they play a hell of a lot differently. I wouldn't have thought past history will have much to do with Sunday afternoon."