Kangaroos veteran Harvey on Monday nominated Ben Cunnington and Shaun Atley as two players to watch in a 2014 season where big improvement is expected.
"They've taken the next step. Their training has been absolutely elite," Harvey said.
"I think they're just starting to recognise now their position in the football club - not just a player trying to get a game every week.
"Their leadership has been taken to the next level and I think that's where we're going to get our improvement from, those type of guys."
The club's next generation has been joined by Dal Santo, who joined the Kangaroos as a free agent after 260 games for St Kilda, and Nahas, who was delisted by Richmond after 83 games and fits a similar profile as some of the emerging Roos.
The duo's first day was the club's pre-season trip to Utah, with valuable get-to-know-you time spent in planes and airports.
While Harvey said the pair called their first day daunting, he was clearly delighted with their work so far.
"Everybody knows what Nick brings, a fantastic amount of leadership," he said.
"Robin's been a little bit of a surprise packet, he's a very bubbly person, up and about all the time, great enthusiasm."
For Harvey, watching Sunday's Australian Open men's tennis final was a reminder that attention will quickly switch to his sport with the first NAB Challenge matches just weeks away.
"Training picks up a notch now and we know we're preparing for some games not too far away," he said.
He said the club hadn't put special focus on the Kangaroos' horror run of narrow losses last season, with coach Brad Scott not deviating from his pre-season approach.
"They do hurt and I don't think you can be a really good team if you lose six games by under a goal so we'll be doing everything to rectify that," he said.
"The way Brad's approached things the past two or three years we won't change too much. Obviously you tinker with the game plan every so slightly every now and then," he said.
"We'll find out in a couple of weeks where we're at."
Harvey also reported strong progress in Andrew Swallow's rehabilitation from a ruptured Achilles and he should be back in the season's early rounds.
North's first NAB Challenge match is against Carlton on February 15, before travelling to Launceston to play Hawthorn six days later.
