NORTH Melbourne is expecting prized draftee Ben Cunnington to play his first game of competitive football next weekend as he continues his recovery from a stress reaction in his right foot.

The club has taken a conservative approach with the 18-year-old since discovering his injury in early January, but senior assistant coach Darren Crocker said he was close to being given the all-clear.

"With another week under his belt next week he'll hopefully be ready to go to have a bit of a hit-out," he said.

Returning to his full training program last Saturday, the midfielder has taken no time to revisit the vigour that made such an impression in his first month at the club.

"He plays and trains with a bit of passion and urgency," Crocker said.

"He knows he's got areas he needs to work on, but you just like to see that in a kid who comes out and isn't overawed by who he's running around with or what he gets thrown into.

"If he applies himself like that, he can't go too far wrong."

North may also consider making a submission to the AFL for some of its players, including Cunnington, to represent their VFL clubs in practice matches during the bye weekend between the NAB Cup grand final and round one of the home and away season.

Recruited by North with its first selection (No.5 overall) in November's NAB AFL Draft, Cunnington said at the time of his injury that he still had his sights on making a round-one debut.