Co-captain Jy Simpkin will face a fitness test ahead of North Melbourne's Round 7 hitout with Melbourne on Saturday night.

Simpkin missed the clash with the Suns due to a right hand fracture suffered in Round 5 against the Brisbane Lions.

"Jy has pulled up well from surgery on his hand," head of performance Kevin White told NMFC Media.

"He had a skills session today at the club and will look to test fully in Thursday's main training session."

Young defender Josh Goater is set for a stint on the sidelines after a fourth-quarter chase in the VFL saw the 19-year-old leave the field clutching his hamstring.

"Josh suffered a hamstring strain near the end of game on Sunday while accelerating at top speed chasing his opponent," White said.

"His scan showed a muscle strain with his return to be determined more closely next week, pending his function and strength over the next seven days in this acute recovery period."

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Ruck Tristan Xerri is continuing to recover well from his right ankle syndesmosis surgery and is eyeing down the next phase of his rehabilitation which includes "on-field loading and stationary ball work".

Draftee Brayden George is also tracking positively as he too "begins to move into a new stage of programming which has emphasis on building running loads on-field and plyometric work in the gym".