North Melbourne's VFL team has been bolstered by two massive inclusions this week, with Marty Hore and Jed Anderson coming into the side to take on Carlton on Saturday.

Hore returns after missing last week's clash with Frankston due to concussion, while Anderson missed due to a minor hamstring issue.

AFL-listed Atu Bosenavulagi is also among the inclusions alongside Jack Lipscombe.

Zach Monkhorst and Tasmanian Alec Wright come into the side for their first VFL appearances of the season.

Carlton enters the clash with hopes of holding onto their top-four spot. With four wins and one loss from their five fixtures so far this season they're one of the form teams of the competition.

Former Bulldog Will Hayes has been the Blues' top performer so far this season. He finished with 32 disposals and a goal in their narrow win over Werribee last week.

>> Full VFL fixture and results

Edwards' ruck opportunity

The opportunity for Jacob Edwards this week is not only exciting, but the impending ruck battle between Edwards and Alex Mirkov looks to be one of the most interesting match-ups of the day.

Both players are still at the start of their AFL journeys having both been selected in last year's mid-season draft. Edwards with the first pick, Mirkov with the sixth.

Edwards has played second fiddle behind the brilliantly performing Callum Coleman-Jones at VFL level this season, but with Coleman-Jones taking up senior responsibilities this week, far more of the ruck load should fall on the raw yet talented first-year player.

Mirkov himself is something of an unknown quantity having crossed to football from volleyball, but at 210cm he has an asset that can't be taught at any level of sport. Sheer height.

This clash is not just a key match-up in the middle of the ground this weekend, it's a clash between two players who could both be the futures of their respective club's ruck stocks.

Hore's timely return

Since arriving at Arden Street ahead of this season defender Marty Hore has grasped the role of backline leader with both hands, and it's a role he's excelled in in this young season.

The Kangaroos' defence has generally been made up of young AFL-listed players this year, with the likes Josh Goater, Miller Bergman and Jackson Archer rotating through. Having a player of Hore's ability and experience out on the ground is a near necessity for this rapidly improving group.

The defence struggled to get to grips with a rampant Frankston attack in the first quarter last week. Thanks to the quick start from the opposition the game was as good as over at quarter-time.

While the side played itself back into competitiveness last week, the return of someone of the ilk of Hore should help steady the ship if required this week.

Saturday, April 30

Carlton v North Melbourne at Ikon Park, 2.05pm AEST

B: 15. A Bosenavulagi, 41. M McGuinness, 37. K Hayden
HB: 27. M Bergman, 31. J Goater, 34. J Archer
C: 29. W Phillips, 3. J Anderson, 33. P Walker
HF: 24. T Powell, 35. C Lazzaro, 70. J Watkins
F: 30. C Comben, 32. J Edwards, 47. M Walker
R: 66. Z Monkhorst, 49. H Jones, 54. K Answerth

I/C: 52. S Collins, 53. M Hore, 56. Y Dib, 59. J Lipscombe, 78. A Wright
23rd Player: 52. S Collins

Emerg: 46. D Tyson, 51. J Cachia, 55. C Hinkley, 70. J Guthrie, 75 C. Weightman

Ins: J Anderson, A Bosenavulagi, M Hore, J Lipscombe, Z Monkhorst, A Wright
Outs: A Bonar, C Coleman-Jones

>> The game will be streamed live on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App