Off-season recruit Libby Birch has been given the green light to play in North Melbourne's AFLW opener against Brisbane after overcoming an MCL injury.
Birch suffered the knee injury during training in late July and has passed all the required testing to be available for selection this week.
Midfielder Jenna Bruton (Achilles) has completed a block of full training and is expected to be available for Sunday's match against the Lions, as is key defender Jasmine Ferguson, who has passed all her concussion tests.
"Jenna's been the ultimate professional in her rehab from a really difficult injury and we couldn't be happier to see her closing in on a return to footy," North Melbourne senior AFLW physiotherapist Billy Williams told NMFC Media.
"We expect 'Ferg' to fully train on Thursday. Providing she recovers well from that session she'll be all clear to play this weekend."
Kate Shierlaw has shaken off a hamstring complaint and has been cleared to return, while Eliza Shannon (ankle) and Lulu Pullar (calf) are both 4-5 weeks off full comebacks.
"'Lize' (Shannon) has completed a couple of running sessions since her ankle surgery about three weeks ago, and pleasingly she has pulled up really well from these," Williams said.
"In the last few weeks, Lulu has put together a number of conditioning sessions which she has tolerated really well.
"We will look to grade her back into training and build out her football conditioning over the next month."
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