With Round 1 less than a month away and the pre-season beginning to wind down, there’s a buzz in the air at Arden Street.

"We're obviously going through a transition phase of being the most experienced and one of the oldest sides in the competition to now, when we're one of the most inexperienced and second youngest," Director of Coaching DarrenCrocker told AAP.

"That's a fair transition in two seasons, and it excites us."

After coming off an injury-ravaged 2017, North currently has the luxury of selecting from almost its full list, which Crocker believes will further boost the club this season.

"When we had our best players out on the paddock we lost a few close games (in 2017). Five by less than a goal, and seven by less than 15 points. Then we got struck down by injury in the back half of the year," he said.

"That really tested our depth.”

One of the main focuses this pre-season for coach Brad Scott and his staff was to ensure the list was as fit as possible heading into their season-opener against the Gold Coast Suns.

The objective seems to be tracking well so far, and has seen the return of some experienced players who have missed large portions of football through injury.

"Quality players that have found themselves in our best 22 before like Sam Wright and Ben Jacobs," Crocker commented.

"We want to get Mason Wood up and fit again. Taylor Garner too. And Kayne Turner who was really coming on.

“There's some real upside there."

With many football fans quick to disregard North’s potential this season, the same conversations aren’t being had within the club.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite, with plenty of optimism within North’s four walls.

"Off the back of a solid pre-season, getting a lot of guys back into the fold ... anything's possible," Crocker said.

"Every playing group goes into any year wanting to play finals and we don't want put a ceiling on our expectations.”