NORTH Melbourne could receive an unexpected boost ahead of Sunday's crucial clash against Collingwood with forward Mason Wood a chance to make an early return from a hamstring injury.
Wood was expected to miss three to four weeks after straining his hamstring late in North's round 15 loss to Essendon.
But North coach Brad Scott told reporters on Wednesday Wood was a good chance to return a week ahead of schedule against the Magpies this Sunday.
"As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we thought when he initially hurt his hamstring that it might be a lengthy period on the sidelines," Scott said.
"But he's recovered really well, and he's done a fair bit of work. He had a really big session on the weekend, a big session again early this week and will train again today.
"Provided he gets through training today, I think he's a good chance."
Scott was also confident Kayne Turner would be fit to take on Collingwood, saying the small forward had "pulled up really well" after being concussed in a marking contest early in the Kangaroos' loss to Sydney last Sunday.
"His recovery on Sunday suggests he'll be fine and he'll train fully today and provided again he doesn't have any symptoms tomorrow he'll play," Scott said.
The Roos coach was far more circumspect on whether he would be able to call on Ben Jacobs to play a run-with role on one of the Magpies' star on-ballers.
Jacobs was a late withdrawal from North's team last Sunday for the third time in four weeks because of lingering concussion systems, which Scott said included dull headaches and "feeling not quite right".
Scott said Jacobs had visited five specialists in a bid to overcome his symptoms, but essentially remained a day-to-day proposition.
"It's probably similar to what it's been. We just keep monitoring his symptoms day by day. I can report that he's feeling good today and he'll do some work out on the track today and it's all important how he pulls ups from that," he said.
"It's just so difficult to ascertain an exact diagnosis because we've got to treat him symptomatically, and that changes sometimes day to day.
"We're in a tough situation again. We've got to name a team tomorrow and I really don't like naming a team that we potentially have to change, but we really have no option. If we think he's a good chance of playing, we'll name him.
"Ben's up to specialist number five at the moment and that's not because we don't trust the initial specialist. It's just that we're looking to cover all bases and get all opinions."
