NORTH Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell is expected to face Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday despite hurting his right shoulder last week in the one-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.
Ziebell, 26, was injured early in the final quarter but had the joint strapped up and returned to the game.
Roos coach Brad Scott said at Arden Street before training on Thursday that no risks would be taken with Ziebell.
"He's going to full train, so he should be OK," Scott said.
"He's been a little bit banged up this year at various stages but just the way he goes about it, he should be fine.
"We obviously won't take any risks with him but we expect him to play."
Hard nut Ben Cunnington will miss after he was banned for one week by the MRP for striking Toby McLean, but Scott said Cunnington's absence had no impact on whether Ziebell faced the Suns.
"It wouldn't come into our thinking either way. If he wasn't right and Cunnington wasn't there, we wouldn't play him (Ziebell)," Scott said.
The coach said North hadn't considered challenging Cunnington's penalty at the Tribunal.
"The bottom line with the Cunnington thing is he did something which he regrets. You can argue whether he got (McLean) in the chest or the neck but one angle shows that maybe he got (McLean) in the neck, so to the letter of the law, the decision is correct," Scott said.
"We're not going to fight a decision that we actually think is right.
"Ben's disappointed. He was fined after the Melbourne game for a little sneaky jumper punch and he didn't learn his lesson the second time so we cop the penalty on our chin."
Cunnington accepted a $1000 fine for striking Bernie Vince in the 14-point win against the Demons in round nine.
Scott nominated Mitch Hibberd as a possible replacement for Cunnington.
Meanwhile, young gun Jy Simpkin will play for Werribee against Sandringham on Sunday at Trevor Barker Beach Oval after recovering from shoulder surgery.
Simpkin was drafted at No.12 last year and was injured against Sydney in round eight.
Ben Jacobs could return for just his third game at any level this year as he attempts to overcome an ankle injury.
"We certainly won't take any risk with him if he's not quite right," Scott said of Jacobs.
An elbow complaint could keep ruckman Braydon Preuss out of VFL action this weekend after he had 63 hit-outs against Footscray last start.
"He's doing what we asked of him. Braydon is one of the guys with an elbow who's a bit touch and go to even play at VFL level this week," Scott said.
"Even if he plays VFL level, I think it's unfair to bring him in (to the AFL) if he's not perfect."
