An ACL tear, suffered in the last game of the pre-season two years ago, set back Kennedy's development. After a long road back, his good form in the VFL has Brad Scott intrigued by his potential.
"We think he has some genuine AFL attributes and some great athleticism so we want to see how he grabs this opportunity," Scott told NMFC.com.au.
"It's a huge one for him. He's worked pretty hard to get back and fit. He's played well the last two weeks for Werribee and now he gets his chance.
"We'd really like to see him play on a good Hawthorn key-forward. The tasks don't come much tougher than (Lance) Franklin and (Jarryd) Roughead."
It will be in the defensive end of the ground where North fans will focus their attention. To add to Kennedy's inclusion, Taylor Hine, Nathan Grima and Cam Delaney have all been selected in the 27-man squad.
Scott McMahon's absence has left a vacant spot in the backline and while Grima is a relative lock depending on his fitness, the remaining three have a big chance to put their best foot forward against what the coach hopes is a strong Hawthorn team.
"Hopefully Franklin and Roughead play up forward, and (Jack) Gunston and Luke Breust, and the back-half if (Brian) Lake, (Josh) Gibson and (Ryan) Schoenmakers play, we'll get a good chance to see some young players play on some genuinely good opposition.
"That will give us more information, help their development."
Treating Saturday as 'a genuine scratch match', the main aim is to get game time into select players according to Scott.
"The AFL has given us the option not to play at all. We've chosen to play because we want to get some game-time and expose some young players against a very good Hawthorn side.
"This game will absolutely be about giving young guys an opportunity, giving guys who are pushing and on the cusp of our Round 1 side a chance to impress, but that's our priority; it's not to field about our best side, or a dress rehearsal for Round 1.
"The priority is to get some game-time into select players, but also to give the guys on the fringe a chance."
The rested best-22 players have all played a large role in North's NAB Cup campaign and from an individual perspective, the approach is to make sure their preparation is 'as good as we can get it'.
"(Jack) Ziebell, (Daniel) Wells, (Lindsay) Thomas, (Scott) Thompson, (Shaun) Atley, (Scott) McMahon and (Sam) Gibson have played most of the games, if not all of the games to this point. We feel their preparation's been really good.
"McMahon will miss through suspension (in Round 1), but all the others we feel are in our best side. We know that, and it's now about getting them individually ready to play.
Todd Goldstein is back in after stepping aside for Daniel Currie while Robbie Tarrant also returns after a rest.
The Squad
1. Daniel Currie
2. Brad McKenzie
3. Ryan Bastinac
4. Liam Anthony
5. Ben Jacobs
6. Lachlan Hansen
9. Andrew Swallow
10. Ben Cunnington
11. Michael Firrito
13. Leigh Adams
14. Jordan Gysberts
17. Nathan Grima
19. Sam Wright
20. Drew Petrie
22. Todd Goldstein
23. Kieran Harper
24. Levi Greenwood
25. Robbie Tarrant
26. Taylor Hine
28. Will Sierakowski
29. Brent Harvey
31. Cam Delaney
34. Jamie Macmillan
35. Aaron Black
36. Ayden Kennedy
38. Majak Daw
41. Aaron Mullett
In: Brad McKenzie, Todd Goldstein, Robbie Tarrant, Taylor Hine, Cam Delaney, Ayden Kennedy, Nathan Grima
Out: Jack Ziebell, Daniel Wells, Lindsay Thomas, Scott Thompson, Shaun Atley, Scott McMahon, Sam Gibson
