Shaun Higgins has been “ticked off” to play in North’s third NAB Challenge match following minor knee surgery on Monday afternoon.

Returning to Arden Street on Wednesday morning, the highly skilled forward said he felt some discomfort in the second half of the club’s practice match against St Kilda in Wangaratta on Saturday.

“It was just enough to know it was there,” Higgins explained to NMFC.com.au.

“I didn’t think too much about it and then that night (it was) probably a little bit sore and then (I) woke up Sunday and then spoke to the club docs (doctors) and physio and probably just decided then that if there was something that needed to come out, let’s just do it now and it won’t hold me up for the season proper.”

Higgins declared the procedure to remove some bone fragments a success and hopes to get back in the gym as soon as possible.

“I’ve pulled up pretty well considering it (the operation) was only a day and a half ago,” he said.

“It was, like we said, really minor … (I’m) moving around today pretty well so all going well it should be a speedy recovery.

“I’ve been pretty much ticked off for NAB three, but that’ll just depend on how the knee feels strength-wise and training-wise and we won’t just rush in to play that game now that I’ve got a game under my belt.

“We’ll build toward NAB three and if it works great, but if it doesn’t then we’ll have another two weeks for strengthening work and training and prepare for round one.”