Sam Wright is set to play his first game in North Melbourne colours since Round 11 last year.
The Roos have named Wright in a 27-man squad to take on GWS in Canberra on Friday in the club’s final JLT Community Series match.
Wright injured his ankle against Richmond in Tasmania in mid-2016, and he'll be a welcome inclusion for Brad Scott’s team should he get through training this week.
In more good news for North fans, Lachlan Hansen will also line up for his first competitive match of 2017 after being sidelined from the club’s first two pre-season hit outs with a quad injury.
Jarrad Waite and Sam Gibson have also been included in the squad, after both missed the club’s most recent pre-season clash at Arden Street.
The final squad of 24 will be named on Friday.
All matches in the final week of the JLT Community Series will feature an interchange cap of 90 and will be played across four full quarters, including time on.
North Melbourne squad
4. Shaun Higgins
6. Lachlan Hansen
7. Jack Ziebell
8. Nathan Hrovat
9. Andrew Swallow
10. Ben Cunnington
11. Luke McDonald
12. Lindsay Thomas
13. Ryan Clarke
14. Trent Dumont
16. Scott Thompson
18. Shaun Atley
19. Sam Wright
21. Jy Simpkin
22. Todd Goldstein
24. Sam Durdin
25. Robbie Tarrant
28. Kayne Turner
30. Jarrad Waite
31. Braydon Preuss
33. Ed Vickers-Willis
34. Jamie Macmillan
38. Majak Daw
39. Mitch Hibberd
41. Corey Wagner
42. Declan Mountford
43. Sam Gibson
