ON THE back of his strong start to 2016, running man Sam Gibson is set to open contract negotiations with North Melbourne soon. 

Gibson is due to come out of contract at the end of this season but remains an integral part of the Roos' midfield as the ladder-leader's best endurance runner. 

The former mature-age rookie is coming off a best-on-ground performance against Essendon last Saturday, when he racked up an equal career-high 36 possessions that included a team-high five rebound 50s and seven inside 50s. 

Gibson's manager, Ben Williams of Players Ink, told AFL.com.au on Tuesday he was scheduled to meet North in "a couple of weeks" to begin talks on the midfielder's future. 

Although he is set to turn 30 next Friday (May 27), Gibson is a relative newcomer to AFL ranks, having been rookie-drafted by North in 2011 at the age of 25. 

He made his debut in round 12 the following season and has not missed a game since. His run of 93 consecutive games is the third longest active streak in the competition, behind those of Andrew Gaff (112) and Brad Ebert (101).

Gibson has dominated pre-season time trials throughout his time at Arden Street and this year's reduction in the interchange rotation cap from 120 to 90 has played into his hands, with the former Oakleigh Charger playing 87.5 per cent game time.

Gibson has averaged 21.9 possessions and one goal a game in 2016. He also leads North in uncontested possessions (136) and is second for inside 50s (32).

Gibson was a member of North's leadership group from 2014-15 before stepping down ahead of this season.

He spent 2007 on Hawthorn's rookie list but did not play a senior game, with his subsequent form in the VFL with the Box Hill Hawks convincing North to throw him an AFL lifeline.