North Melbourne has a handful of players pressing for a call-up for Sunday's game against Geelong, with the injury list shortening and the reserves in strong form.

Onballers Liam Shiels and Tom Powell will need to pass fitness tests if they're to make the trip down the highway, so there's potential for places to open up.

Interim senior coach Brett Ratten may also be in the mood to make unforced changes, after the Roos' 66-point defeat to the Crows ended a run of competitive performances.

Cooper Harvey's first senior appearance is looming closer, after the 18-year-old collected 20 disposals and booted five goals against Williamstown.

Harvey would follow not only his famous father, the AFL games record holder Brent, but great-grandfather Bill and uncle Shane in having represented North Melbourne.

Daniel Howe continues to press his claims for his first senior game since Round 11, having notched 32 disposals, seven tackles and six clearances against the Seagulls.

The 27-year-old currently leads the Roos for coaches' votes at reserve level, and would provide the coaches positional flexibility as an established half-back flanker, winger and tagger.

The plan for ruck Tristan Xerri has so far been to "progress his conditioning" after the bye round interrupted his return from injury, but the coaches could be tempted to call him up.

Xerri was the best player on the ground in the reserves' win, a day after mentor Todd Goldstein was substituted out of the senior match.

A call-up for Charlie Lazzaro would be richly deserved; the third-year midfielder having averaged 28.5 disposals, four tackles and more than three clearances over the last month.

The challenge will be to find on-ball minutes for Lazzaro, who has often had to play a less familiar half-forward role at senior level.

Defenders Aaron Hall (25 disposals, 10 marks) and Lachie Young (21 disposals, eight marks) similarly performed strongly, and will have strong claims if Ratten opts to rotate his rebounding defenders.