North coach Brad Scott has labelled Robbie Nahas's defensive efforts at VFL level "eye-opening" and says the small forward is the ideal replacement for Kayne Turner and Lindsay Thomas.

Nahas, who was elevated from the Roos' rookie list on Thursday, has been included in the squad for Sunday's clash against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium along with tall forward Mason Wood.

The additions come after North was forced to make two changes to fill the hole left by livewires Turner (hamstring) and Thomas (suspension).

Scott said Nahas would cover the sudden small forward deficiency, describing his inclusion as a "like-for-like replacement".

"Losing two small forwards meant that we felt on balance we needed to replace at least one of those guys with a small forward," Scott told NMFC.com.au after the final team was announced.

"Nahas has been in really good touch and been kicking goals for a long time in the VFL, but his pressure and being able to replace the Turner/Thomas-type pressure has really been at a high level in the VFL, so we feel he can come in and do that.

"It's his pressure that's been eye-opening to the match committee."

Wood has also earned his spot in the starting line-up following his 23-disposal, four-goal performance for VFL affiliate Werribee last Saturday.

The Roos' coach said Wood had been rewarded for a strong run of form after being a late withdrawal for Turner in round five.

"(He was) really unlucky to go out of the side up on the Gold Coast as a late change and went back and did everything we asked of him, so he deserves his spot through form," Scott said.

After being named in the original 25-man squad, Brad McKenzie, Aaron Mullett and Majak Daw have been listed as emergencies for the clash.

Scott acknowledged the hard work McKenzie had put in over the past few months.

"He's really improved. We're really quite optimistic as to what Brad can offer," Scott said of the 22-year-old, who was also named among Werribee's best last weekend.

"It's a fair reflection of the footy he's played that he's in our 25 when the senior team – with the exception of a couple mid-forwards – is pretty much injury-free."

Scott added that Mullett had "again been squeezed out of the side based on the availability of the list and the form of the team", but said the running defender was continuing to mount a strong case.

"We think he's very, very close and he's a bit unlucky to miss this week," he said.

The ruck contest especially looms as an interesting match-up between Todd Goldstein and in-form Saint Tom Hickey, who reduced Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn's influence last Saturday.

The North coach said the match committee had discussed the possibility of entering the game with Daw as a back-up ruckman to Goldstein.

"We're having a good think about that, but 'Maj' has just deserved his spot in the 25 again based on his form," Scott said.

"If something happens to a tall between now and game day, Maj is ready to come in."