North Melbourne won't rush tagger Ben Jacobs back onto the field in 2017 but coach Brad Scott is keen to ensure the midfielder stays at the club next year.
Jacobs has not played this season and lined up in just seven games last year after dealing with a variety of right foot injuries.
The 25-year-old's contract expires at the end of 2017.
"He's hopefully not too far away but unfortunately, we've been saying that for a long time," Scott said at Arden Street on Thursday.
"Whenever we get close to the point of him returning – he actually has returned (before), and pulled up a bit sore.
"We're really confident the initial injury is sound but he's getting some referred pain elsewhere. My instruction to our medical team is just not to rush it.
"Obviously we want him back but we want to be conservative with the approach so that when he is back, he gets a clear run at it."
Jacobs returned through the VFL Development League in May and played in Werribee's senior side the following week.
The coach had no doubt about the importance of the former Port Adelaide midfielder.
"They're discussions that are ongoing with our list management team but Ben Jacobs, as a player, is not in question," Scott said.
Jacobs has twice had the fifth metatarsal in his right foot operated on since May 2016.
"We've got enough evidence to know what his best is, we've just got to get him healthy. That's our priority at the moment," Scott said.
"Is he a player at his best that's going to stay on our list? Absolutely he is."
Jacobs has played 77 matches to date.
Defender Dan Nielson will make his debut, helping fill the hole left by Jamie Macmillan (finger).
Stoppage specialist Ben Cunnington is set to return to face Fremantle at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon after serving a one-game ban. while Trent Dumont will be available after he was managed for last Saturday's 19-point loss to Gold Coast.
"Trent will be available after he had some niggles that in isolation weren't enough to keep him out of the game, but the cumulative effect meant he needed to have a rest," Scott said.
"He's fit and available and should play."
Ruckman Braydon Preuss has overcome an elbow complaint while small defender Marley Williams remains a chance to return from a back niggle.
"Unsure as to whether Marley Williams will be available. He's a chance but not a certainty," Scott said.
Sam Wright, 26, has returned for two straight VFL games but has more work to do before completely overcoming a foot injury that has not allowed him to play in Scott's team this year.
"We've got to be a bit conservative with Sam. Probably the last couple of weeks, he's been running around still thinking about his foot a little bit in the back of his mind. We want him back training and playing, focusing on his footy, not his injury," Scott said.
