North Melbourne interim senior coach Brett Ratten says there has been "huge growth" at the club despite this season's results, as Alastair Clarkson prepares to return to the coaching helm.

The Kangaroos are yet to win since trumping the Dockers by a point in Round 2, and sit on a 15-game losing streak heading into Round 19.

"If you projected where we'd be (at this point in time, prior to the season), you'd probably have a few more wins under our belt," Ratten told reporters at Arden Street on Wednesday afternoon.

"But when you look at what's happening in the four walls on Monday to Friday … there's been some shifts – the environment, the feedback from players and then them being more open to giving feedback to each other.

"The leadership meetings are growing to look at high-performing teams ... so, from that point of view, I can see some huge growth. We just haven't got the benefit (on-field)."

Ratten acknowledged the Kangaroos have struggled with some key player absences this season but said that with injuries come opportunities.

"This week, we won't have (Cam) Zurhaar and a few others. Jy (Simpkin) won't play either so we'll have a few out, but that's the challenge for us. We probably need our better players there to perform at the level that we're after," he said.

"But with adversity you get to play the kids and you get to keep putting time into them to see where they can go to, and that's an enjoyable part.

"To be a part of Cooper Harvey's first game and watch (Harry) Sheezel develop ... it's a shame (George) Wardlaw has done his hamstring, but just to see some of those kids come in (has been great).

"Will Phillips will be very close to playing this week as well ... he played really well against Geelong at VFL level and was pretty good again on the weekend (against Box Hill)."

As announced earlier on Wednesday, Clarkson will return to his senior coaching duties in full for the club's Round 21 clash with Melbourne in Tasmania, leaving Ratten in the seat for two more fixtures, one being against his former club St Kilda on Sunday.

Ratten spent three full years coaching the Saints before departing the club at the end of the 2022 season. He said there would be nothing personal for him in the Round 19 clash, with his focus purely on the on-field battle.

"You look at St Kilda and they're sixth and finals bound and we're 17th, so we've got our work cut out for us," Ratten said.

"Their list is pretty strong and their expectations have always been to play finals, and they've added to their list with (Mattaes) Phillipou through the draft so they've gotten even stronger. It’s a huge challenge for us."

General manager of football Todd Viney also spoke to reporters alongside Ratten to provide an overview of Clarkson coaching plan, and stated that the four-time premiership coach's 'energy is back' as he begins to ramp up his workload.

"He (Clarkson) has come into see the coaches over a couple of weeks just to have a chat about where the game is and how we're going," he said.

"He came in today (Wednesday) to meet the players, later in the week he'll check-in with the rest of the staff. Next week he'll be in full-time ... he won't come to the west for the Eagles game and then leading into the Melbourne game he'll be fully immersed in taking over the full program.

"I know we would have liked the results over the past couple to have been a little stronger, but remarkably, the environment’s been really positive and 'Ratts' (Ratten) and the whole football department - and club - have done an amazing job in keeping the ship sailing in rough waters.

"But we're really happy that Clarko is coming back, and Ratts has done an amazing job to this point."