LACHLAN Hansen is available to replace suspended defender Michael Firrito after overcoming hip soreness, but midfield star Daniel Wells is still at least another two weeks away from a return, North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says.
Hansen has not played since North's round 14 loss to Gold Coast, when the hip condition that sidelined him from the Roos' finals campaign last year flared again.
The key defender has played the past two weeks in the VFL with Werribee, with the Roos keen to ensure he built a good base of match conditioning before returning to the senior side.
Scott told reporters on Thursday that Hansen had proven he was over his hip soreness, but did not pencil him in as Firrito's replacement against Melbourne on Sunday.
"He looked good last week playing for Werribee. He's played two back now, so he's certainly available and that gives us a bit of flexibility with Firrito being suspended," Scott said.
"He'll be in the mix but along with about four other players: Brad McKenzie, Max Warren, Robin Nahas and Aaron Mullett.
"We've got some good options to replace 'Spud'."
Wells, who has been sidelined by an Achilles tendon injury since round two, completed a series of running drills at Arden Street on Thursday.
The two-time best and fairest winner gradually increased his speeds during the session and looked to be moving comfortably.
"He's coming along pretty well but I doubt he'd play in the next fortnight, but pretty soon after that we're hoping to get him back," Scott said.
"He's shown some really good glimpses at training. It's just more about how he pulls up consistently and we need him pulling up pain-free for a few sessions in a row before we start thinking about playing him.
"He's not quite there yet."
Scott said Wells would most likely have to play a game in the VFL before earning a senior recall. However, he said North hadn't set a deadline by which the midfielder had to return to be considered for the finals if North qualified.
Scott said the Roos were also mindful that Wells had been one of North's best players in its elimination final win over Essendon last year, despite returning just three weeks earlier from a Lisfranc foot injury that had sidelined him for 15 weeks.
"We've still got some flexibility in making that decision. It will just be what it will be," Scott said of Wells' possible return.
"He came off a pretty limited preparation [before last year's finals].
"We know what he's capable of when he's fully fit and he's been able to do a fair chunk of work that we'd be happy enough with his conditioning. It's just about how he can recover from the injury itself."
Scott also said North was keen to re-sign unrestricted free agents Robbie Tarrant and Drew Petrie.
Key Roo Petrie looks for one-year extension to contract
After a breakout year in defence in 2015, Tarrant has attracted significant interest from clubs believed to include Hawthorn, the Brisbane Lions and St Kilda, while Petrie, 32, is keen to extend his career at Arden Street into a 16th season.
"We can't afford to lose anyone we want to keep. It's pretty simple this time of year: you try and recontract all the players that you're really keen to keep and Robbie's certainly one of those," Scott said.
"[Drew's] a really important player for us and we're keen to keep him and he's keen to play on. So if all those things match up and we get a deal done then that's great."
