NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott says his club's injury woes are finally starting to ease with Levi Greenwood available for selection this week and Ryan Bastinac set to resume in the Werribee reserves.
Bastinac has not played a game this year after injuring his knee in the pre-season and Greenwood has been battling an ankle injury.
Scott said Bastinac, who tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee in January after finishing fifth in last year's NAB AFL Rising Star award, would need to build match fitness in the VFL. Nonetheless, Scott was excited about his impending senior return.
"(When he returns) Bastinac will add much-needed composure and skill execution," Scott said at Aegis Park on Wednesday.
"He's a really clean player, he's mature beyond his years. It's not often that a 19-year-old is a vital part of your midfield mix."
In the wake of the Kangaroos' disappointing second-half fadeout against the Brisbane Lions last Saturday night, Scott said such positive news was a sign North was almost over the spate of injuries that had struck it in the pre-season.
"We've been really fortunate we haven't sustained any in-game injuries for a while and the players (who suffered) pre-season injuries are really starting to filter back into the side now," Scott said.
"We expect that over the next month to six weeks - Ayden Kennedy (knee reconstruction) aside - we'll be close to full strength."
Midfielder Ed Lower was placed on North's long-term injury list last week, but Hamish McIntosh (achilles tendon) and Nathan Grima (broken finger) should return in that period.
Scott said forward Sam Wright, who missed last week's game with a shoulder injury, could return this week but stressed North would take no risks with him. Todd Goldstein would play against the Swans despite suffering a corked adductor late in the game against the Brisbane Lions, he said.
Scott expected there would be some changes to North's side this round, saying the outstanding VFL form of Cameron Pedersen (who kicked eight goals last Saturday), Ben McKinley (four goals) and Cameron Richardson (34 possessions) would ensure they were closely considered.
Morale had not been a problem at Aegis Park this week despite the Kangaroos blowing a three-quarter time lead for the third time this season, Scott said.
Scott praised his side's contested possession and clearance work against the Lions, but said improving their poor skill execution had been the major focus of training this week.
He said his side knew what to expect from the Swans - a fierce contest against one of the League's most competitive and disciplined sides.
The 46-point margin in the Swans' loss to Hawthorn last Sunday belied the evenness of that game, Scott said. He was also mindful of the two defeats the Swans inflicted on his side last season, by 40 points in round four and by 30 points in round 15.
