An interrupted 2014 was the catalyst for Daniel Wells’ request to head to Utah, despite not having to report back for pre-season until December.

Coming off just a 10-game campaign – his lowest tally since 2009 – Wells was keen to get a head-start on his preparations.

"I didn't have much of a season and I thought I needed to get back into pre-season a little bit quicker," Wells told The Age’s Rohan Connolly.

"I missed a massive block and just hung on for that last little bit, then the break has come, so there just hasn't been much conditioning. I just needed to get back into it, I reckon, and I'm really looking forward to it.”

Although the 2014 Utah trip has been scaled back compared to previous versions, it still looms as a tough start to pre-season.

Wells will join Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell, Jamie Macmillan and approximately a dozen of the younger players on North Melbourne’s list in Park City.

"It's a very taxing few weeks. You're away from your family and there's nowhere to hide, and you've just got to get through each session as best you can. Even walking around you're short of breath at the start and it's hard to sleep, you're always tossing and turning.

"But it's fantastic to get away as a group and this time have the chance to help fast-track the younger guys. I've really got a lot out of it. It gives you a lot of confidence that when you come back to Australia you're ready to hit the next couple of weeks really hard and then have a good break over Christmas."

Given North’s run to the preliminary final, it will have a shorter preparation for 2015 than most sides.

However, it was the heavy loss to Sydney which provided multiple learning areas to carry with it over the summer; not least of which was the intensity needed on such a big stage.

"We need to have the strength and endurance to do that. Our game plan I think is sound. No doubt Brad [Scott] will tweak it a bit, but I thought we were able to adapt to other game styles and get the game on our terms a lot more this year, and really put other teams on the back foot."

Two new recruits in Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite should help the Kangaroos climb back towards the pointy end of September in 2015, and Wells is itching to take the field with the duo.

"I met them a couple of weeks ago. I really enjoy the way Shaun plays but his best footy will be super for us, and Waitey has had his injury worries but we know what he can produce.

“When he's up and going he's as dangerous as anyone in the competition. Hopefully we can bring the best out of both of them a bit more."