OVERCOMING the mental scars from almost 10 months out of the game is North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow's greatest challenge ahead of his imminent return in Saturday's important clash against the Brisbane Lions.

If he gets through training unscathed this week, Swallow will lead the Roos out onto Etihad Stadium for the first time since rupturing his left Achilles tendon in round 18 last year against Melbourne.

It would be 294 days since the midfielder last played an AFL match, and regaining confidence in his body – particularly when jumping explosively – will be his toughest test.

"The biggest challenge is mentally, the battle. It's just a grind day-in, day-out," Swallow said at Arden Street on Monday.

"Little niggles that you feel from time to time. You feel like you're ready to go and they hold you back.

"So just that mental battle. It's great to be getting to the other end where you're actually playing because that makes it a lot easier.

"But there's still mind games even now that you still play. I'm sure there will be a couple of sleepless nights before I actually get out there just knowing that I'll get through and be unscathed."

The captain often cut a solitary figure at Arden Street as he underwent a painstaking rehabilitation before his long-awaited comeback VFL game for North Ballarat on April 27.

Swallow played three quarters against Geelong's VFL team before getting through a full match against Footscray, and has grown in confidence by playing under pressure and fatigue.

"I was actually really nervous going into that (first) game, just the unknown to go out and do it," he said.

"I'm still probably lacking a bit of power in it and a bit with my jumping, but the rest of it feels fine."

The 146-game veteran hopes the extra game in the VFL means he avoids the green substitute's vest for his AFL recall.

While Swallow joked that his return might not be welcomed by whichever teammate he pushes out of the side, the sight of North's No.9 running through midfield will be a welcome sight for Kangaroos fans.

Whether Daniel Wells will be fit to further bolster the Roos' on-ball brigade remains in doubt.

The Roos are seemingly still sweating on sore foot, which has forced him out of the past two matches.

The dynamic midfielder only completed light skills work away from the main group at training on Monday, suggesting he's no certainty to take his place.

North, which is 10th on the ladder with a 4-3 record, is facing a crucial month in its campaign to return to finals football.

The Roos are aiming to rebound from a flattening 43-point loss to Gold Coast against

the bottom-of-the-ladder Lions, before taking on Geelong, West Coast in Perth and Richmond.

Swallow admitted it's been frustrating at times only being able to watch North's inconsistent season, but in that time he's developed a passion for teaching the game.

"Most of the time our effort's been OK, but a lot of the method stuff was probably poor," Swallow said.

"So I've tried to really tweak some of that with the guys, and (tried to) coach a couple of the guys on ways we can improve. 

"So I've enjoyed that side of things and it probably ignited a bit of a passion for that sort of stuff, which has been great."