North Melbourne could regain Luke McDonald, Luke Parker, Charlie Comben and Jack Darling for Sunday's clash with Melbourne, should the quartet prove their fitness during main training later in the week.

McDonald (shoulder), Parker (ribs) and Darling (groin) picked up their respective injuries in the Round 16 loss to Hawthorn but could come back into the team having missed just one match.

Comben has been battling a shoulder issue he sustained in the Round 13 victory over West Coast. He hasn't featured since the Roos' Round 15 win over Carlton at the MCG but is a chance to slot back into the team for Sunday.

Senior coach Alastair Clarkson and the selection committee will need to replace star midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke after the No.9 suffered a concussion last Thursday night against the Western Bulldogs.

Tasmanian youngster Geordie Payne has been pressing for an AFL debut and was North Melbourne's best afield in the 16-point VFL loss to Footscray last week.

Payne notched 17 tackles – 10 more than anyone else on the field – along with 13 disposals, five clearances and two goals in a strong all-round performance.

The Roos will also need to look at the tall forward stocks if Nick Larkey (knee) and Darling fail to get up for selection.

Callum Coleman-Jones has been a consistent contributor since returning from his Achilles injury. He tallied 18 disposals, 17 hitouts and four contested grabs in the VFL against the Bulldogs, while Brynn Teakle had six touches and four marks.

Zac Banch continued to impress in his role as a small forward. He attacked the contest with intensity in the reserves and snagged two goals through quick-thinking efforts out the back.

In his return from a foot injury, Eddie Ford did a bit of everything, grabbing 19 disposals and eight intercepts to go with one goal.