North Melbourne’s injury plagued season has taken another hit with vice-captain Jack Ziebell out of the side to play Hawthorn.

The midfielder will miss the match after sustaining a knee injury in the fourth quarter against the Lions last week.

Ziebell joins a long list of injured players at Arden Street with the likes of Daniel Wells, Nathan Grima, Jamie Macmillan, Robbie Nahas, Robbie Tarrant, Joel Tippett, Dan Currie, also out of action.

Defender Lachlan Hansen however has recovered from general soreness and has been added to the team following a week off in Brisbane.

The club’s busy medical room may have saved some under-performing players from the axe, with Brad Scott outlining his intentions to be less forgiving at the selection table.

“I’m after a ruthless attitude from our players and I’m not getting it at the moment,” Scott told the media on Monday.

“Players in one way, shape or form reflect their coach so that tells me that I’m not being ruthless enough with them.

“I’m demanding a ruthless attitude and they are not delivering it, so that reflects on me.”

Aaron Mullett and Brad McKenzie have felt the wrath of the coach, while first-gamer Max Warren has most likely been left out for match-up reasons.

Liam Anthony has been welcomed back along with Sam Wright and veteran defender Scott McMahon.

Team v Hawthorn

B: Luke McDonald, Scott Thompson, Scott McMahon
HB: Shaun Atley, Lachlan Hansen, Michael Firrito
C: Sam Gibson, Andrew Swallow, Liam Anthony
HF: Brent Harvey, Aaron Black, Nick Dal Santo
F: Sam Wright, Drew Petrie, Lindsay Thomas
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Levi Greenwood
Int: Ryan Bastinac, Ben Jacobs, Leigh Adams, Ben Brown
Emer: Max Warren, Mason Wood, Trent Dumont

In: Scott McMahon, Lachlan Hansen, Liam Anthony, Sam Wright
Out: Jack Ziebell (knee), Aaron Mullett, Brad McKenzie, Max Warren (all omitted)
Milestone: Sam Gibson – 50 games