Ben Brown says he’s “feeling really good” heading into round one, and can’t wait to get the season started.

The key-forward suffered a calf injury in mid-February, with the club taking a cautious approach to his recovery.

North's season-opener coming at the perfect time for his return. 

“Before the calf injury, I was flying all summer and had the best pre-season I’ve had so far,” Brown told Channel 9.

“It’s been probably three or four weeks that I’ve been off legs, and just making sure this calf is 100 per cent right to go.

“We are really confident in the work that we did leading up to that injury, that I’ve got enough tickets in the bank and I should be right to go for round one.”

Brown is among a group of key players who had delayed starts to playing in competitive matches, with Jack Ziebell (calf) and Jared Polec (foot) also making their returns in recent weeks.

But the North number 50 says the Roos’ stars will be ready and raring to go, come Sunday.

“Over the pre-season, the clubs probably take a little bit more of a measured approach towards rehabilitation,” Brown added. 

“The plan was always to get these guys ready for round one, and it’s credit to our sports science team that a few guys that had little niggles and injuries towards the end of pre-season … the vast majority of them are back and ready to go.”