North Melbourne has been boosted in its pursuit of a third win by the return of two key figures for Saturday's trip to Adelaide.

As confirmed on Wednesday, Ben Cunnington will return to play his first senior match in 385 days, having overcome testicular cancer.

Ben McKay has been declared fit to face the Crows, having missed the last match against Sydney with shoulder soreness.

Draftee defender Jackson Archer has similarly shaken off a hip injury and been named for his third senior game of the season.

Jason Horne-Francis has been omitted ahead of the Kangaroos' trip to his hometown, along with former Crow Hugh Greenwood.

Josh Walker has made way for McKay, while Flynn Perez makes up the omissions having gone unused as the Roos' medical substitute last Sunday.

Along with Walker and Greenwood, Atu Bosenavulagi and Josh Goater have been listed among the emergencies on the back of strong form at reserve grade.

The substitute and travelling emergency will be chosen from that quartet.