The Kangaroos will hop on a plane to Darwin to contest for premiership points for the first time in club history this weekend. North Melbourne will be looking to end its run of defeats with victory against a red-hot Suns side.

A foot injury to in-form forward Cam Zurhaar opens up a spot in the forward line, however it's not at all clear as to who will join Nick Larkey as a replacement for 'The Bull'. 

The injury to Zurhaar coupled with some strong VFL form and a handful of players looking to return from injury places some selection pressure on coach David Noble and the match committee this week.

The lack of available key forward options makes the question of Zurhaar's replacement a difficult one to answer. Injuries to Charlie Comben and Callum Coleman-Jones see the Kangaroos enter the clash thin on marking targets.

Comben is set to miss the next six weeks after a knee operation while Coleman-Jones is battling to shake off a quad injury.

Jaidyn Stephenson could be primed to return to either a high-half forward role or the deep forward position in which he made his name as. In what looms as slippery and slick conditions his class forward of the ball could prove a difference-maker. Charlie Lazzaro could also come in as a versatile option through the forward third of the ground as he continues to build at VFL level.

Both spent time running through both the midfield and forward lines, and while neither kicked a goal in the clash they were both strong influences on proceedings and key cogs to North's third-quarter comeback.

Despite copping a hard tag for almost the entirety of the game Stephenson registered 24 disposals, five tackles and four clearances. He dominated with his quick ball-use by hand and ability to get in and under at the contest.

Lazzaro was once again rotated through forward, wing and inside midfield roles and operated classily for much of the game. He finished with 24 touches, six tackles and four clearances.

Ben McKay looks a near certainty to return from the knee injury he suffered against Fremantle in Round 8, meaning he can reclaim his place at the heart of the Kangaroos' defence and potentially free up Josh Walker to swing forward.

McKay was in the midst of one of the best performances of his 43-game career before he suffered the injury in the third term, and had already registered 10 intercepts in the clash.

Should Noble elect to shake up the defence, Atu Bosenavulagi and Matt McGuinness both performed admirably under heavy pressure from a firing Sandringham forward line.

Bosenavulagi was a late arrival to the game due to being named as an emergency for the AFL clash with the Saints. Despite his less than ideal pre-game preparation he operated well running out of North's backline and finished with 21 disposals, six marks and six tackles.

McGuinness was once again placed under pressure as the Kangaroos' deepest defender. Tasked with facing Chris Carey for much of the day, a forward who is listed as over 25kg heavier than him, the defender used his agility and guile to open up the ground for his teammates.

He finished with 27 disposals and 11 marks.

Jackson Archer continues to improve at VFL level and finished with eight disposals and six tackles in a physical and committed display of defending. Josh Goater struggled to influence proceedings with his nine disposals but has looked ready to take the step-up to AFL football at times this season.

Phoenix Spicer is expected to return from injury this week but has been confirmed to play three quarters of VFL football. It can be expected that he is eased back into match play in the coming weeks.