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REIGNING North Melbourne best and fairest winner Daniel Wells remains on track to play in round one, Kangaroos coach Brad Scott says.

Wells pulled up well after his comeback game against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday following six months on blood-thinning medication to treat life-threatening blood clots in his lungs.

"We've been really confident in [Wells'] preparation in terms of the running and the strength work he's been doing in the gym," Scott said at Aegis Park on Thursday.

"[The concern has been managing his] progression into contact [training]. He approached last week really well and took probably five or six minutes to get into the game. We cut him a bit of slack there and then he played the way he usually does.

"He should be right to go from now and hitting round one in good shape."

Scott said North would be using this Sunday's game against Carlton at Visy Park to finalise its best 22 ahead of its round one match against Essendon. Aside from North's core of eight or nine senior players, Scott said the remainder of its playing list was remarkably even, with plenty of round one spots still up for grabs. 

"[There's] a really competitive environment for spots … and I think we need to find some players who are going to jump up and command a spot in our best side," Scott said.

Mature-age rookie Sam Gibson is one player who has been making a compelling case for senior selection throughout the NAB Cup, Scott said.

The former Box Hill Hawks captain has shown he is a "ready-made" ball-winner with great endurance and will be strongly considered for senior elevation before round one, he said.

"He's a 25-year-old who's had an opportunity previously [on Hawthorn's rookie list] and is now desperate not to let this opportunity slip," Scott said.

"I've been really impressed by the way he approaches his football. He's really mature and he's a terrific leader even though he's an inexperienced [AFL] footballer."

Scott was also confident ruckmen Todd Goldstein and Hamish McIntosh could reprise the successful partnership they forged in 2010 in the new era of the substitute rule.

For most of last season, Goldstein played as North's sole ruckman, in a year when many teams chose to play just one ruckman with support from a tall utility. But Scott said there was room for both Goldstein and McIntosh in North's best team.

"I've always maintained that I rate them as elite-level ruckmen, so the bottom line is if they're playing to their potential they're both in our best side," he said.

Scott said he expected this year would be the most even season in his 18 years in the AFL, with up to seven teams trying to displace last season's top-eight clubs.

"Mathematically it doesn't make sense but what it adds up to is a really competitive season and we hope we're right in that mix," he said.

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Carlton vs North Melbourne
Visy Park, Carlton
Sunday March 18
1pm

2012 North Melbourne Football Club members (with match access) & AFL North Melbourne Club Support members receive free admission to this game.
(subject to capacity)

General public tickets are via cash sales at the gate only on the day.

Ticket prices - General admission
Adult $10
Concession $5
Junior $2
Family $20

Membership & merchandise will be available at this match. Exact location to be confirmed.

Gates will open at 12pm.