North Melbourne's top selection hopes to feature early in the season, having been one of the Roos' top performers on the track since the club returned from the Christmas break.

The club has run several match simulations at training over the first few weeks of 2023, and Harry Sheezel has won attention for both his skills and decision making, as well as his off-ball work rate.

With practice matches around the corner Sheezel says he hasn't set any objectives for himself in those games, but revealed he's targeting March 18's home-and-away game against West Coast.

"I haven't really set specific goals about the practice matches, but at the moment the aim is to probably play as early as I can, and Round 1 would obviously be the first game," Sheezel told North Media with a smile.

"So, yeah, I am looking towards that, and that would be a great opportunity if it is to happen."

From draft night in November when he was snapped up with the third selection to the midpoint of pre-season in January, Sheezel has adapted well to life in an elite program.

"It's probably been a bit better than I expected," the forward related.

"I'm just loving the full-time environment that comes with being an AFL footballer.

"Training is ramping up into more match sim which I'm loving, and I'm learning more each day.

"The first match sim was a bit of a wake-up (call) playing against bigger bodies and the game is much faster, but we've done it for about two weeks now and it feels like with every game we play I'm feeling more comfortable and getting more used to the level."

When he gets the call-up, Sheezel will be injected into an exciting and emerging forward line to be led once more by two-time club leading goalkicker Nick Larkey, who the youngster has been learning from among other teammates.

"Souvvy's (Larkey) been really good … I'm speaking to him a lot about the structures, and he's someone I've been able to get a lot of information off," Sheezel said.

"Someone (else) I've been watching from a playing perspective has been Curtis Taylor and 'Stevo' (Jaidyn Stephenson), they're playing similar roles to me so I'm trying to watch them."