North Melbourne star Luke Davies-Uniacke will need to prove his fitness to play in Friday's clash with Carlton after battling a corked calf.
The midfielder was a last-minute withdrawal for the Roos' Round 3 defeat against Hawthorn due to calf tightness, an issue the 23-year-old first suffered the week prior against Fremantle.
North Melbourne had hoped the ailment wouldn't be an issue heading into last weekend, however, persistent concerns in the lead-up to the Hawthorn matchup forced the Roos to pull the pin on Davies-Uniacke's playing chances.
The in-form onballer will be required to prove his fitness for Good Friday's encounter with an undefeated Carlton unit, where Davies-Uniacke will be a key playmaker in the Kangaroos' hopes of claiming their third win of the year.
"We thought he was going to be available last week," North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson said of Davies-Uniacke when speaking to media on Tuesday morning.
"He just had a calf cork from the week before and usually they settle and this one just didn't over the last 24 hours to 48 hours (prior to Saturday's game) like we expected it to.
"We're hopeful, but he'll need to be tested and we'll do that probably Wednesday."
The Roos are set to welcome co-captain Jy Simpkin back from his one-game suspension for striking in what will be another significant boost for Clarkson's plans.
North Melbourne may be without key defender Griffin Logue for this week's clash against the Blues as he and the club prepare to challenge a one-match ban for rough conduct following an incident with Hawks defender Will Day.
Should the Roos fail in their attempt to clear Logue, Clarkson will be tasked with calling on reinforcement to help tame Coleman Medal-winning pair Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay for the Blues.
The Roos have been without key backman Ben McKay for the start of the season, with the 25-year-old set to miss his first chance to face his twin brother, Harry, on Friday.
According toย AFL.com.au'sย Riley Beveridge, McKay won't be fit in time for the contest as he continued to nurse a foot injury.
North Melbourne has ruled out any chance of a Ben McKay return for its Good Friday clash against Carlton and his twin brother Harry.
Make it eight straight seasons without a match-up between the McKay twins. @AFLcomau
— Riley Beveridge (@RileyBev) April 4, 2023
Fringe defenders Aiden Bonar and Kallan Dawson will both be in consideration to partner Aidan Corr on Clarkson's last line, with the Roos coach flagging multiple changes may be required.
"Depending on what happens with Griff at the Tribunal we'll bring in one or two players that'll need to try and cover those big fellas for the Blues," Clarkson said.
"They're a formidable forward line and very potent in the front end. We'll have a challenge set out in that game, but there's other strengths of the Carlton side too that we'll need to concern ourselves with, particularly the supply those two guys can get.
"So we'll try and shut that down, that'd help us too."
One name Kangaroos fans are keen to see at senior level is No.4 draft pick George Wardlaw, who was again impressive at VFL level over the weekend.
The Oakleigh Chargers product collected 24 possession to feature among the Roos' best in a narrow win over Southport last Saturday, shaking off an interrupted pre-season to put his hand up for selection.
Clarkson has echoed that the teenager won't be rushed into his selection plans despite the strong form, with the club wanting to see more match conditioning from Wardlaw in the reserves across the coming weeks.
"We've been really patient with George and we put together a 10-week condition program for him, as he's been so interrupted over the previous couple of years," Clarkson said.
"He's two games in, we've been really excited what he's been able to do, but he's not quite there yet with his full match condition. We want him to be a 10-12 year player.
"It's tough. The supporters want him to play, he wants to play. We're really excited to get him out there pretty soon too, but we've got to make sure we give him every chance to have success when he does play.
"We just think some more match condition in the VFL is what's required."
North Melbourne will host Carlton at a sold-out Marvel Stadium on Friday afternoon as they look to bounce back from their Round 3 defeat.
