North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson says two Kangaroos rookies are close to winning their first caps.

Former Vic Metro captain Blake Drury and mature-aged selection Hamish Free, having arrived with the Kangaroos' first two picks in the latest rookie intake, have presented strong cases for selection.

Drury, a versatile and skilled small, has been a popular smokey for some months on the back of a near-seamless pre-season.

Having spent the first few rounds in the backline, he has since swung forward and booted three goals from two games in a hybrid role.

"He'll be a chance," Clarkson told reporters on Thursday afternoon.

"We've got to sit down this afternoon and select our side, but he's right in the mix. He was a carryover player last week, and he's been playing some good footy.

"It'll be exciting to see him get an opportunity. If it's not this week, I'm hoping it'll be soon."

Free was brought over from South Fremantle, where he notched 29 senior games in two seasons as a combative ruck with crisp hands.

The 24-year-old won a place in the WAFL Team of the Season in 2022, and has maintained his form for North Melbourne's reserves.

"We need to give consideration to anyone above six-foot-four to be fair," Clarkson laughed.

"'Hammer' has been going really well in the twos … if it's not this week, he's going to get his chance pretty soon, I'm sure."

Free has entered the frame following an ankle injury to key forward Charlie Comben, which has ruled the athletic prospect out for the next 10 weeks.

A dogged competitor forward of the ball and the nominative relief ruck, Comben leaves a gaping hole in the Kangaroos' tall rotation.

"In the second half last week we had to put Griffin Logue forward," Clarkson recalled.

"We'll give some consideration to doing that (again), or Cam Zurhaar might have to play forward a little bit more.

"We need to work that out … and we also need to look at the St Kilda side, they're not overly tall and they've had their own troubles with injuries.

"We'll look at the balance of the sides and try to work out what the best mix is."

The match committee will also monitor the fitness of two key figures as it prepares to lodge the final team at 5pm on Friday afternoon.

Luke Davies-Uniacke, grappling with a heel injury, was pulled from the team on the day before the match last week, but returned to train with the main group on Thursday.

"He trained okay, but we just need to see how he pulls up tomorrow," Clarkson set out.

"If he does (pull up well), then obviously we'll select him. He's a pretty important component of our side.

"He was able to do the full session today, so hopefully he'll be able to play."

Jack Ziebell will be another watch for the Roos' coaches, having successfully completed a fitness test before the team's main session.

The veteran limped from the field with a foot complaint in the first quarter on Saturday, but returned to see out the match.

"He's just a real warrior for us," Clarkson marvelled.

"He carries injuries from time to time but you would never know it, the way that he plays the game.

"He was able to do most of the session as well, so unless something untoward happens in the next 24 hours he'll be available to play."