After a disappointing end to the Round 1 clash with Hawthorn, North Melbourne will be looking to find its way onto the winners list in this weekend's home clash against West Coast.

Many of this week's questions centre around selection headaches for both coaches, and both teams look set to potentially spring some selection surprises come gameday.

Here are four of the most pressing questions ahead of this weekend's clash with the Eagles.

North's key defensive conundrum

The Kangaroos' key defensive stocks have taken a hit in this past week. Ben McKay is unavailable due to concussion, Josh Walker may not be available to play due to the League's health and safety protocols, and Matt McGuinness is fighting his way back from a foot injury.

Should Walker be available this weekend, he's the most obvious selection to replace McKay at the heart of the Kangaroos defence. His size and experience could be a huge asset going into week two of the season.

If Walker can't play though, the Kangaroos may have to reshape their backline, and enter the game with no definite match-up for the likes of West Coast's 236-game veteran Jack Darling and 197cm Hugh Dixon. Forward pair Oscar Allen and Josh Kennedy have already been ruled out.

Jack Ziebell took the fight to Hawthorn's Mitch Lewis on the weekend and could be called upon to play tall again, while Aiden Bonar has played centre half-back to good effect in North's VFL program when called upon.

Kyron Hayden is another strong, athletic mid-sized defender who could be tasked with playing tall. David Noble could even throw a cat amongst the pigeons and select Charlie Comben to play at his non-preferred end of the ground, or, if he's fit, McGuinness could come in for a long-awaited debut.

Even if Walker does play, all eyes will be on how the Kangaroos' defence shapes up ahead of Sunday's opening bounce.

Three rucks again?

One of the main storylines throughout the Kangaroos pre-season was surrounding which rucks would play Round 1. David Noble is a coach who likes to play with two bona-fide rucks in his side, but there were three pushing hard for selection.

Noble's solution was to rotate Tristan Xerri and Todd Goldstein through the middle of the ground against the Hawks, while Callum Coleman-Jones played as a stay-at-home forward to support Nick Larkey.

Should Noble run with the three rucks again, the roles of the trio could be adjusted. Xerri, who attended the game's opening bounce, played possibly the best senior game of his young career looks like a lock to stay in the middle of the ground, so the question arises around Todd Goldstein and Callum Coleman-Jones.

Goldstein impressed when he was thrown forward against the Hawks, kicking two goals and providing a strong target up the line.

Does Noble play the trio in the same roles as last week? Does Goldstein become a stay at home forward with Coleman-Jones playing ruck? Does a medium-sized forward like Eddie Ford or Paul Curtis come into the side at the expense of one of the three talls?

The best thing about this selection headache is Noble has options, and he'll look to run with the line-up that best exposes the weaknesses in West Coast's defence.

Eagles ins and outs 

West Coast could line up with a vastly different side this weekend compared to the team that lost to Gold Coast in Round 1.

Josh Kennedy looks set to miss due to health and safety protocols, but the players that could potentially come in this week for the Eagles is basically a list of some of their most important players.

Tim Kelly, Liam Ryan and Jack Darling are all available for selection after overcoming various injuries and absences over the pre-season, while former Lion Alex Witherden is returning from suspension.

Defence/midfield option Liam Duggan will be a late fitness test and could come into the side alongside captain and two-time best and fairest winner Luke Shuey.

Willie Rioli is also available after the Tribunal overturned his one-game suspension for a heavy bump on Matt Rowell.

That's one potential big out in Kennedy, but up to six big inclusions Adam Simpson could call upon. Are any of those potential inclusions underdone, and if so, who doesn't play?

On the board at home?

The second-half performance of the Kangaroos in Round 1 was, without a doubt, frustrating.

If the performance from the first half can be reproduced and held over the whole game this weekend though, North is in with a serious chance of chalking up a solid victory.

After the past two seasons of uncertainty surrounding crowds and fixturing, the opportunity to play in front of a roaring home crowd at Marvel is one that has every Kangaroo itching to be named in the 22.

Get down to Marvel on Sunday and support your Kangaroos!