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."
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".
