EXPECT a new-look Daniel Wells in 2009.

North Melbourne's most exciting player is two weeks into pre-season training and hopes to retain the extra kilos he's already added to his light frame.

However, a delayed start to compensate for his International Rules commitments means Wells now needs to make up ground on his teammates, who are "miles ahead".

"They're pretty fit, so we've got a bit of catching up to do but it's exciting to see everyone running times they've never run before," he said.

"I'm going to have to be hitting it pretty hard with the likes of Brent Harvey, Matty Campbell and Drew (Petrie)."

That trio, and defender Michael Firrito, also played in the International Rule Series and Wells said it was good to have "a couple of boys with you to work with".

"It's going to be tough but hopefully I can do the work and reap some rewards," he said.

Wells completed last week's 3.2km time trial in a fashion expected of him but aims for a far better result when he hits that track again before Christmas.

He moved freely as the squad undertook successive 100m run-throughs at Arden Street on Wednesday, showing no sign of the knee injury that sidelined him for two games last season and troubled him at other stages.

And any recurrence should be countered by the leg strength Wells hopes to build over the coming months – complementing his plans to spend more time in the midfield.

"My body's changed a little bit already since the end of the season," he said. "It's probably a little bit heavier, I've put on a couple of kilos and I'm holding it – which is good.

"I just need to get a bit more strength in the legs and the hips. There's still a long way to go but I think it's the right direction I want to be heading in if I want to play a bit more in the midfield.

"Playing in the midfield you've got to work that little bit extra harder.

"Last year I played a little bit lighter than I probably would have liked. I thought I had good speed but other than that I sort of got pushed off the ball a little bit too easy."

Despite his self-assessed shortcomings, Wells should carry some confidence from a two-month run that generated his best football in six years with the Roos.

It signalled his growing maturity as a player and a person and the departure of experienced quartet Shannon Grant, Jess Sinclair, Nathan Thompson and Leigh Brown has encouraged that too.

"I feel a little bit older. I'm 24 in February, but it's exciting times," he said.

"[My wife and I are] expecting our first baby in early January. It's something to get me through the pre-season anyway.

"It's probably the best thing that's ever happened to me, having a little one on the way. We've only got six weeks to go. It feels like a lifetime but it'll go just like that."