George Wardlaw will bolster North Melbourne's midfield as they travel north to face ladder-leaders Sydney at the SCG on Saturday.

The Rising Star nominee returns to the team after completing concussion protocols following a training ground incident on June 27. He missed Round 16's loss to the Western Bulldogs and last weekend's epic win against the Gold Coast.

Midfielder Will Phillips has been omitted this week.

Defender Zac Fisher misses with the foot sprain that kept him out of last weekend's win, while backman Griffin Logue is again likely to feature at VFL level, as he returns to full match fitness following his long recovery from a ruptured ACL.

Wardlaw is named on the interchange bench for the Swans clash alongside Kallan Dawson, Curtis Taylor, Bailey Scott and Liam Shiels. One of the five will be named the substitute an hour before Saturday's 1.45pm opening bounce.

Phillips, Jaidyn Stephenson and Robert Hansen Jnr are this week's emergencies.