North Melbourne is prepared to ease emerging midfielder George Wardlaw back into AFL football with coach Alastair Clarkson saying they "can't take the risk".
Wardlaw is set for minutes in the VFL after a serious hamstring injury in the pre-season wiped him out for almost three months.
The former Pick 4 has had troubles with his hamstring throughout his career thus far, but this was the worst, forcing the club to be cautious.
"He's missed a fair bit of footy, he's available to play, we're going to give him some game conditioning," Clarkson said.
"We just can't take the risk of someone that has missed so much footy, he'll come back through the VFL.
"Despite the narrative of what happened to him prior to getting to North, the couple of little setbacks he's had here are minor, and this was a more serious one.
"Prior to that incident, he hadn't had one for 18 months, we just know with these guys, the more you can condition them … he's learned an enormous amount over the last two years.
"He had a hiccup neither he nor we could explain, but he's had a really good rehab and ready to go, he's confident; he trained really well over the last 3-4 weeks in particular."
High draftee Matt Whitlock will come into selection consideration after a standout performance in the VFL over the weekend.
Whitlock - who joined the club with Pick 27 as a utility - gathered 27 touches and seven marks.
After a positive start to 2025, the Kangaroos sit 1-2 and will look to the Swans to square the ledger on Saturday.
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