NORTH Melbourne will announce its captain for 2012 in January, with current leader Brent Harvey no certainty to retain the role.
 
Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said on Thursday that the club was going through a "process", and echoed Harvey's own earlier statement that there were a number of well-credentialed candidates.
 
Scott did guarantee that Harvey would remain in a leadership role of some kind.
 
"The leadership hasn't been decided, but 'Boomer' [Harvey] does an outstanding job and he'll be a leader of this club next year," Scott said.
 
"In what form, we're not sure yet.
 
"As 'Boomer' has said publicly a number of times, the fortunate position that we're in is that we've got a number of guys who have really elevated themselves in a leadership type role.
 
"So we'll work through that process and I anticipate that we'll make an announcement some time in January."
 
Harvey, who has been captain since 2009, said in November that he would be happy to relinquish the job if it was thought to be the best thing for the club.
 
The 33-year-old nominated Drew Petrie, Andrew Swallow, Scott Thompson, Nathan Grima and Jack Ziebell as potential replacements.
 
Scott also said he was prepared for the possibility of losing Gavin Urquhart to Port Adelaide via next Tuesday's pre-season draft.
 
North Melbourne delisted Urquhart at the end of the season despite the 23-year-old still having a year to run on his contract, but committed to rookie listing him.
 
Melbourne newspaper The Age reported on Wednesday that the former Queenslander had flown to Adelaide for an interview with the Power.
 
"We've committed to re-rookie listing him, but the process that you go through when you go through a draft is that other clubs have the opportunity to potentially pick him first," Scott said.
 
"Gav's got to explore all of his options for his career.
 
"If we get the opportunity to pick him we will, but he's just got to do what's best for his football career.
 
"If that means another club, so be it."
 
The Kangaroos don't have a pick in the pre-season draft.