NORTH Melbourne will keep forward Jarrad Waite "in the moment" before considering whether he can play a 17th AFL season next year.
The 35-year-old, who sat out parts of Thursday's main training session ahead of Sunday's match against Brisbane, has been instrumental in North Melbourne's 6-4 start to the season.
And despite enjoying his best season statistically since 2009, Waite's contract extension, along with fellow veteran Scott Thompson, is yet to be discussed according to coach Brad Scott.
NORTH V LIONS Can the Kangas keep their winning form?
"We haven't even thought about that yet," Scott said on Thursday.
"Scotty Thompson and ‘Waitey’ are just playing really good footy. Our focus is on making sure that continues, if that continues then I think things probably take care of themselves.
"If he (Waite) keeps putting those (games) together who knows.
"I know the risk is as soon as you start thinking like that, that's when your form will drop off. We've just got to keep him in the moment."
Waite was rested for the Roos' round seven trip to face Sydney, Scott hinting he could enjoy another break in the second half of the year.
"There's a bye coming up pretty soon (round 13) so we'd like to space out his season just to be proactive," Scott said.
"At the moment he's looking really good, even when we rested him he was good too. He wasn't happy about being rested but sometimes you've got to protect players from themselves."
Sitting fifth on the table heading into Sunday’s game, Scott said nothing had changed in his side's preparation as expectation builds externally.
"I haven't caught up with the hype," he said.
"It didn't change at the start of the year when probably expectations were a lot lower.
"Now there are greater expectations, we haven't changed the way we go about it and prepare. The focus has been on keeping the player's attention on where it needs to be."
Scott said defender Sam Durdin was cherry ripe to play despite failing to return to the field in last week's win over Fremantle, on the receiving end of a bump from Aaron Sandilands.
"He was 100 per cent clear the next morning and passed his concussion tests," Scott said.
"Each subsequent day he's undergone another test and he's pulled up really well. He'll train fully today and, barring any mishap, will be available."
Defender Majak Daw trained fully and is in the frame to return after he was rested last week.
Midfielder Paul Ahern will be in the squad for the clash with the Lions at Etihad Stadium.
"We're looking really closely about his best role at AFL footy and more than ever he looks ready to play footy after two years out," Scott said.
"He's been in the mix for a number of weeks now, I suspect he'll be in our squad of 26."
Meanwhile forward Taylor Garner looks set to be sidelined again, training away from the main group after finishing on the bench in the VFL last weekend with hamstring soreness.
