Make no mistake, North Melbourne wants to win games, a stern coach David Noble told the media on Thursday.

But the first-year coach again got on the front foot about the need to get the “process” right.

“I feel like we’ve explained ourselves really well over the previous few weeks and it’s been misinterpreted … I don’t know why it’s been taken out of context but I’ve said publicly we go into each game to win,” he said.

“I don’t know where this discussion’s come from of, ‘why are we chasing the process?’. You’ve got to get the God damn process right to win. A lot of people in the football industry would know that.

“The way you get there is you have to hit that process really hard, that’s a fact. If you put the win before the process you’ll fall over.”

With the likes of Robbie Tarrant, Luke McDonald and Jed Anderson already on the sidelines, North’s injuries have been well documented.

Aiden Bonar and Jaidyn Stephenson are also set for a stint on the sidelines, due to ankle and wrist problems respectively.

Noble says a number of key players should return to the side after the bye, and that Trent Dumont has rocketed into contention for senior selection.

“A big chunk of them [injuries] for us have been collision this year, they haven’t been soft tissue. They’re difficult ones to plan against and around. I still think we’re in reasonable shape,” he said.

“One of the key things for us, and our fans are seeing it, is we still have really good energy in our team.

“It probably brings Trent back into the equation a tad quicker but he’s had a good couple of weeks … [it’s a] great opportunity for our guys to deal with adversity.”

One man who is banging down the door for an opportunity at senior level is Tristan Xerri, with the number-38 putting in a number of good performances as North’s primary ruck at VFL level.

With both Todd Goldstein and Tom Campbell in good form at AFL level, Noble says Xerri is aware of what he has to do to force himself into the team.

“The issue we’ve had unfortunately with big X (Xerri) is we haven’t been able to play him forward much with the … lack of another tall ruck in the VFL [side],” he said.

“We’ve told him we’re really keen to play two rucks in our team and he knows he has to put pressure on either Goldy (Todd Goldstein) or Tom (Campbell) to take their spot.

“His (Xerri’s) contest work and ruck craft over the past two or three weeks has really escalated … he had a bunch of clearances last week, his second efforts have really come on, so he’s applying some pressure, no doubt.”

With the mid-season draft fast approaching, the debate of whether to draft for the present or the future is slowly heating up for every club.

Noble says the club is zoning in on the type of players it wants to select.

“The discussion around it is if it’s for immediate or for future, I think it’s probably more for future. I think that’s the method we’ll look at,” he said.

“That doesn’t mean we won’t consider a 22, 23 [or] 24-year-old because they may also help you with your future as well. It’s a little bit around your needs.

“Whether we have one or two we’re not quite sure. I would think in some of the discussions in the next couple of weeks if there’s enough talent there you probably want to have two, if not you have one and move on.”