Injuries have forced two changes to North Melbourne's provisional squad to face Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

Co-captain Jy Simpkin has been withdrawn after failing to fully recover from a quad complaint that kept him out of last weekend's trip to Darwin to play the Gold Coast Suns.

Meanwhile an ankle injury has sidelined young defender Jackson Archer.

Youngster Wil Dawson and forward Eddie Ford have been added to the initial squad named on Thursday night.

Young gun Zane Duursma, defenders Toby Pink and Miller Bergman were among the initial inclusions for the Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash, alongside Dylan Stephens and Curtis Taylor.

North Melbourne's team selection will be announced at 5pm AEST on Friday, with one interchange player to be named substitute when the final line-up is confirmed an hour before Sunday's opening bounce.