MIDFIELDER Daniel Wells believes he is on track to return to the North Melbourne line-up before the end of the home and away season.

Wells’ specialist cleared him during the week to take his rehabilitation to the next phase and increase his running intensity.

Wells suffered ligament damage to his lisfranc joint – first believed to be bone bruising – which has kept him out of the Kangaroos line-up since round five.

"It was some good news from the specialist the other day," Wells told The Footy Show.

"Probably still a little way away from actually training with the guys, that’s the next step I want to do.

"I’ve done some pretty big running sessions, not so much distance, but just intensity, we’re really starting to step it up.

"I’ll run again tomorrow and this will be the third one (session) in a row, so far it’s pulled up really well."

The 29-year-old is confident he will take part in North Melbourne’s end to the season.

"I think so, depending on what shape I’m in, what condition and also what touch (I have), it’s going to take a couple of weeks to find that out," he said.

"At this stage it looks like I should be able to return this year."

Wells’ teammate Drew Petrie accidentally stood on his foot in the lead-up to the round five clash against Collingwood where it was first examined as bone bruising.

He took his spot in the line-up before having it re-assessed after experiencing more pain, and learned the full extent of the damage.

"Lucky it was just the ligament damage and not the whole lot which is probably season ending," he said.

"Early days, I was thinking I might have to wait until next year, as the weeks went on, I just needed that time to rest up."