NORTH Melbourne full-forward Nathan Thompson is confident he will retain his place for Sunday's clash with Carlton at Telstra Dome.
The 30-year-old injured an ankle in last weekend's 20-point win over the Western Bulldogs, but played out the game to finish with two goals.
Coach Dean Laidley praised the big man's determination to get through his first match since round 15 and Thompson was happy with how the joint has recovered.
"It's pulled up okay," he said from Arden Street on Tuesday.
"It was pretty sore on the weekend and it was pretty tough work in the last three quarters. But it was just a great win for the club and [I was] glad I could contribute in a small way.
"[I didn't have] many kicks and marks and handballs, but I played my role for the side.
"There is a bit of training to get through and later in the week I'll get out on it and, as long as it feels right, and I'm fit and ready to go, I'll play."
Thompson, who has returned from a knee reconstruction that sidelined him for all of 2007, admitted it has been a tough year.
After kicking 24 goals in the first nine rounds of the season, he has added just four from his last five games.
He had an arthroscope while sitting out the losses to Geelong and Fremantle, and underwent minor knee surgery again as the Roos followed up wins over Collingwood and Melbourne by beating the Brisbane Lions.
"There's no hiding from that, it's been a frustrating year," Thompson said. "The first part of the year was really good, I started to find some touch, but after that I've hit a run of injuries and little things.
"That's been very frustrating but I'm working hard and my fitness still feels good. In the first quarter I felt really good on the weekend, and it's just a matter of getting myself out there for a few games in a row and I really feel like the touch is there again."
The veteran also felt there wasn't enough room in North's line-up for its raft of talls, with No. 1 ruckman Hamish McIntosh a strong chance to return against the Blues.
"Someone's going to miss out, but that's the great thing about the club at the moment," he said. "There are guys pushing for spots and, if the guys who are in the side at the moment don't play well, someone else will pop up because everyone's playing well in the VFL affiliate sides.
"Obviously Hamish McIntosh has come back, Aaron Edwards came back last week and played some time. We're pretty lucky at the moment. We've got some good depth at the club and it just makes it hard to get a spot."
