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Best 22
B: Lachlan Hansen, Scott Thompson, Michael Firrito
HB: Shaun Atley, Joel Tippett, Sam Wright
C: Daniel Wells, Jack Ziebell, Nick Dal Santo
HF: Brent Harvey, Jarrad Waite, Shaun Higgins
F: Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie, Aaron Black
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Andrew Swallow
I/C: Jamie Macmillan, Luke McDonald, Sam Gibson
Sub: Ryan Bastinac

Health of the list
North coach Brad Scott had his doubts during the pre-season about whether his team would be underdone entering round one given the likes of Drew Petrie (ankle), Lindsay Thomas (foot), Ben Brown (knee), Aaron Black (shoulder), Majak Daw (dislocated foot) and Robbie Tarrant (tibia) all had slow starts to the summer. But the Roos' list has started to look a lot healthier over the past two months, with Nathan Grima (back), Aaron Mullett (shoulder) and Leigh Adams (concussion) the only players ruled out of round one. Lachlan Hansen (hips) remains an outside chance to take on the Crows.

The big questions
Is North a legitimate premiership contender? The Roos beat every other top-six team last year but can they be consistent enough to finish the 2015 home and away season in the top four and give themselves a realistic shot at the flag?

Can Jack Ziebell enjoy a season free of injury and suspension? The midfielder is an elite contested ball-winner and gives North flexibility with his ability to pinch-hit in attack, but constant niggles and suspensions have so far kept him from graduating from very good to elite.

Can Robbie Tarrant or Joel Tippett become North's 'gorilla' in defence? Both players will be given plenty of opportunities in 2015 after North was exposed by power forwards Tom Hawkins and Lance Franklin in last year's finals series.

Summer standout
Shaun Higgins could scarcely have been more impressive since crossing from the Western Bulldogs last October. Making the most of the Bulldogs' early finish last season, Higgins has not missed a beat this pre-season and will enter 2015 looking fitter and quicker than he has in years. Kicked six goals in his two NAB Challenge games.

Sudden impact
Jarrad Waite might be 32 but he remains remarkably athletic for a 194cm spearhead and is one of the best contested marks in the competition. His presence in North's attack should take enormous pressure off Drew Petrie and make the Roos' forward 50 entries far less predictable.

It's crunch time for…
Ryan Bastinac was so impressive in his 2010 debut season he looked set to be a cornerstone of North's midfield for a decade. However, the on-baller's development has stagnated in recent seasons and last year was a real struggle as he tried to adapt to a more outside role. The 23-year-old is contracted to the end of 2017 but if he cannot arrest his form slide he could be forced out of the Roos' team by younger players such as Dumont and Taylor Garner.

Pivotal match
North will be hoping it's still in contention for the top four when round 21 rolls around. Fremantle is in the same boat, so the Roos could get the chance to simultaneously boost their premiership chances and dent the Dockers' at Etihad Stadium on August 23.

The Kangaroos will have a good year if…
They can develop the ruthlessness needed to avoid the flat performances that cost them a top-four spot last season. The Roos did show greater consistency later in 2014 and if they can continue that throughout this year then they could position themselves to make a serious tilt at the flag.

Fantasy cash cow
Trent Dumont probably won't play senior football early in 2015, but the second-year midfielder should make his debut this year. Enjoyed an outstanding season with North's VFL affiliate North Ballarat last year and is a natural inside ball-winner who is generously priced at $120,000.

AFL.com.au consensus predicted ladder finish: Fifth

Premiership clock: A prelim final berth last year suggests the midnight hour is approaching for the Roos. They've certainly recruited like a team with an open premiership window. No matter how you look at it, they're close.