NORTH Melbourne is confident of regaining Jarrad Waite for Saturday's clash with Essendon, but Corey Wagner will miss three to four weeks with an ankle injury. 

Waite, 34, has missed the past two rounds with a calf injury, but is expected to push his case for a recall on the training track this week. 

North will have to make at least two changes this week after Wagner, who had minor surgery on Monday, and Mitch Hibberd (shoulder) were injured in last Saturday's loss to Port Adelaide. 

The Roos' replacement options are fairly limited given the club's growing injury list. 

Ruckman Braydon Preuss (back) will have to pass a fitness test later this week to play, but it's understood he will probably miss another week. 

Run-with midfielder Ben Jacobs (foot) was this week ruled out for the rest of the season, while Sam Wright's year appears to be in doubt after he was put back on North's injury list on Tuesday. 

Wright has played three of Werribee's past four games and, after a week off, impressed in last Saturday's loss to Richmond's VFL team with 22 possessions and seven marks. But the foot and ankle problems that have plagued the 27-year-old this season have resurfaced, with North yet to confirm his likely absence.

Defender Marley Williams (back) and forward Mason Wood (calf) will be sidelined for another week, while small forward Kayne Turner (knee) could miss up to another two rounds. 

First-year key forward Nick Larkey (knee) has missed the past two weeks in the VFL, but could return this weekend.