North Melbourne looks set to regain Lachlan Hansen for Saturday's crucial clash against Richmond in Hobart, with the key defender only having to get through training this week to prove he's finally ready to resume after post-season hip surgery.

North coach Brad Scott told reporters on Wednesday that the Roos would select Hansen to take on the Tigers after he played the past two rounds in the VFL with Werribee.

"Provided we don't have mishaps in the next 24 hours we'll select him," Scott said of Hansen.

PRESS PLAY above to watch the Scott media conference | YouTube

Scott was also "really confident" Jarrad Waite (hamstring) and Luke McDonald would be available for Saturday's clash at Blundstone Arena but said Daniel Wells (Achilles tendon) would be sidelined for at least another week.

Hansen had surgery on both hips at the end of last season after missing six of the Roos' final seven games, including all three finals.

The 26-year-old has been a key member of North's backline in recent seasons, with the Roos missing his elite intercept marking in the first five rounds.

Waite was a late withdrawal from North's loss to Hawthorn last Saturday night with hamstring soreness, while McDonald has missed the past two weeks with leg soreness.

Scott said Waite probably would have played last round if North hadn't been coming off a six-day break.

"It was (a) really, really minor (injury). That suggests he'll play this week," Scott said.

"He'll need to get through full training and as with any other player he'll need to be 100 per cent."

Two-time best and fairest winner Wells has not played since being substituted out of North's round two win over the Brisbane Lions at half-time.

Scott was unable to provide a "definitive" timeframe on when Wells would return but was hopeful the star midfielder was fairly close to resuming.

"He's better than he was but with tendon injuries they can be a little bit frustrating," Scott said.

"We think it's going to be something that's going to resolve fairly quickly but we can't put a definitive timeframe on it.

"He's doing a power of work in terms of his endurance (with) cross-training. It does give him an opportunity to get his fitness up to absolute elite level."

Meanwhile, Nick Dal Santo did some light running at Arden Street on Wednesday as he recovers from hamstring surgery last month.

The veteran midfielder is listed as being 6-8 weeks from returning.