LACHLAN Hansen could be named for North Melbourne's round one clash against Adelaide without playing a practice match, Roos coach Brad Scott says.

North released an injury list on Tuesday that had Hansen two weeks away from returning to the field.

The key defender will not play any part in North's NAB Challenge campaign after his delayed start to the pre-season because of hip surgery. 

And if the Roos' injury timeline proves correct, Hansen will miss his last chance to get some match practice ahead of round one, in a VFL practice match next weekend. 

But Scott told reporters on Thursday that North would still consider selecting Hansen for round one if his training track form was good enough. 

North football director Geoff Walsh said on Tuesday that Hansen had "really stepped up his intensity and volume at training" in a bid to play against the Crows. 

"He's a terrific athlete and a really good runner and he's done a lot of conditioning (training) so I wouldn't rule him out," Scott said. 

"But it's fair to say that there are others who have had a better preparation so if he trains fully he's a chance to be selected. 

"If he's cleared by the medicos then he's a chance." 

North has rested key forward Jarrad Waite from its team that will take on Richmond on Saturday in the final round of the NAB Challenge. 

Scott said Waite was ready for round one after playing in North's first two pre-season games, with the former Blue's omission giving the Roos the chance to play Mason Wood again after his impressive performance against Hawthorn two weeks ago.

Fellow tall forwards Drew Petrie, Aaron Black and Ben Brown have also been named in North's preliminary squad for Saturday's game as Scott tries to settle on the make-up of his round one attack.

Scott was hopeful that the Tigers clash would be "the final piece in the puzzle" that enabled him to settle on his preferred forward line.

He said North would have to strike the right balance between talls and smalls and made it clear he would pick the best forward structure rather than the best players.

"They know we're going to pick the system and not the players," Scott said.

"The teamsmanship within that forward competition has been really good."

 Like Hansen, North's first pick in the 2012 national draft, Taylor Garner, will head into the 2015 season without playing a practice match.

Garner played two games in his 2013 debut season, but played just one pre-season game last year before recurring hamstring injuries ruined his year.

The forward underwent hip surgery at the end of last season and has been eased through this pre-season by the Roos.

But Scott is hopeful Garner is close to playing again.

"He's the clichéd couple of weeks away and he seems like he's been that way for a while," Scott said. 

"We're just being ultra-cautious with him. He's obviously missed a lot of footy and he's a really valuable player for us and when we get him back we want him back full-time.

"We won't take any risks or rush him."

First-year Roos Sam Durdin and Will Fordham are set to play their first games of 2015 this Sunday when North's VFL affiliate North Ballarat plays its first pre-season practice match against Coburg at Craigieburn.