North Melbourne has been under a COVID-19 cloud in the week leading up to its Round 20 clash with Essendon, with four players plus interim coach Leigh Adams all confirmed to have contracted the virus after last weekend's defeat to Hawthorn.

Obviously the changing of plans and a number of players being under a selection cloud isn’t ideal preparation for a clash with the club’s traditional rivals, but Adams says the week’s preparations have been close to business as usual.

“I’m obviously stuck at home but the week hasn’t changed a huge amount. On Monday we kept all the boys away from the club and gave them the extra day off just to make sure there was no chance of it spreading, and then yesterday we just tightened our day up a little bit,” Adams said.

"We were still able to have our meetings and they were still able to have a run around and get their gym done.

"Unfortunately it’s something we’ve been used to so it’s just condensing the day, getting the boys in to do their work and getting out. The boys had yesterday off which was planned anyway and then they’re back to training as per normal today.

"From where we thought we could be earlier in the week we’ll be not too badly affected."

While there are four players under a selection cloud this week due to contracting the virus, Adams only went as far as ruling two players out of action for the weekend’s game with veteran midfielder Ben Cunnington and first-year forward Paul Curtis both remaining in isolation until after the weekend’s AFL and VFL clashes.

Cunnington was due to play some part in the VFL game at Windy Hill in what would have been his first competitive football since last year’s Round 19 victory over Carlton.

Adams says Cunnington will take the latest setback in his stride like he has done all season.

"Sometimes you just don’t know what to say to him (Cunnington). It’s been setback after setback for him. Probably the last couple of setbacks are insignificant to the ones he’s been through,” he said.

"He’s such a resilient guy to move on really quickly and see what’s next in front of him. At the moment that’s getting over this COVID and then jumping back into the program next week.

“We’re running out of a bit of time to get him back into the team because we can’t just rush him. Fingers crossed if he can get back this week, get some VFL minutes next week then he won’t be too far away.”

In some positive selection news however, it looks like key forward Nick Larkey will be available for the clash against the Bombers after being a late out in last week’s defeat to Hawthorn.

Larkey was substituted out of the Round 18 victory over Richmond after landing awkwardly in a marking contest, and the heel injury sustained in that game prevented him from taking to the field against the Hawks.

"From all reports he (Larkey) trained on Tuesday. We’ve got a main session today which he’ll do the majority of. If he gets through the majority of the session today and then pulls up well we expect him to be available this week."