Todd Goldstein remains in doubt for North Melbourne's blockbuster game against Geelong on Saturday night, with the All Australian ruckman needing to prove his fitness at training to take his place in the Roos' 22.

Goldstein missed North's win over Richmond last Friday after copping a knock to the knee a week earlier in the loss to the Sydney Swans.

The ruckman told Channel Nine earlier this week he was almost certain to return against the Cats, saying he possibly could have played in the Richmond clash if it had been a final.

But Scott told reporters Goldstein would not be risked against Geelong if the ruckman was not close to full fitness.

"I'm hopeful that he'll train today fully and if he does that and gets through, then obviously he'll come in and play, but again we'll watch him really closely at training and make sure he's 100 per cent," Scott said on Wednesday.

"I think the rough estimate last week was he was about 85 per cent, but we won't risk him unless he's 100 per cent or extremely close to it."

Asked whether Goldstein's injury could become an on-going one if he was brought back too soon, Scott said North's medical staff were confident there was little risk of that.

"It's structurally very sound, there's absolutely no problem there," Scott said of Goldstein's knee.

"It's more just pain and function, more function than pain."

North will have to replace Sam Wright this round, with the defender set to miss the next six to eight weeks with an ankle injury he suffered against the Tigers.

Scott said about six players were in line to replace Wright, suggesting the Roos might consider moving a midfielder back into defence so they could promote another midfielder from the VFL such as in-form Trent Dumont.

Small forward Jed Anderson has been sidelined since suffering a serious hamstring injury in his club debut for North in round one, but could make his return in the VFL with Werribee this weekend.

"It’s dependent on (Anderson) training really well today, but his return is imminent and we hope it's this weekend," Scott said.

North has won its past three games against Geelong, but after missing the finals last year for the first time since 2006 the Cats have been bolstered by off-season additions Patrick Dangerfield, Lachie Henderson and Zac Smith.

Scott said the Cats' team now had more flexibility and would prove a tough assignment on Saturday night.

"Clearly Dangerfield would make a difference to any team but I don't think it's fair just to isolate him," Scott said.

"I think Lachie Henderson has had a terrific year and probably makes life for (Tom) Lonergan and (Harry) Taylor even better.

"That flexibility in the ruck now with Zac Smith and Rhys Stanley really makes them (better) and (there's been) the emergence of Shane Kersten.

"They've worked really hard, I think, to develop players underneath while their veterans are still playing good footy."