Star midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke and speed machine Colby McKercher led the way as North Melbourne's pre-season continued at Arden St Oval on Friday.

Stepping up their competitive gametime, the squad played a match simulation that featured four quarters of 20 minutes each.

Davies-Uniacke was the standout, weaving in and out of traffic with ball in hand while racking up plenty of clearances. One of his many disposals was a well-converted set shot from a tough angle in the second quarter.

McKercher started on the ball alongside George Wardlaw, Luke Parker and Taylor Goad. They went head-to-head at the first throw-up with Davies-Uniacke, Harry Sheezel, Finn O'Sulllivan and the Origin-bound Tristan Xerri.

Wardlaw left the track with a hamstring complaint in the first half and will have scans.

Riley Hardeman, who again supplied drive off the half-back line, found himself matched up against a rotating cast of teammates including the zippy Zac Banch, Lachy Dovaston, Jacob Konstanty, and more senior Roos Cam Zurhaar and Paul Curtis.

"They're all equally hard (to contain)," Hardeman told NMFC Media after the match sim.

"Today gives you quite a taste for it. We're getting back into the real good stuff, which is why we come and train every day.

"I'm really excited for (the official intraclub) next Friday night. Absolutely keen to get down for it."

Sheezel opened the scoring in typical Sheezel fashion, expertly roving an inside 50 stoppage before snapping truly. His class was on show again following the quarter-time break as he sent a laser pass to Curtis, who made no mistake from 30m out.

Midfielder Tom Powell continued to catch the eye with his clean ball use, while Dylan Stephens was heavily involved throughout the session, constantly pushing back to help kickstart transition play for his side.

Toby Pink was strong defensively, notching a number of intercept grabs early. 

Xerri gave away a high-contact free kick to draftee Dovaston who went back and slotted his set shot, taking the opportunity to rile up the big ruckman afterwards.

Fellow youngster Matt Whitlock finished with three goals, converting one after a strong contested mark at the top of the goal square in the third quarter.

In an unusual sight, forward Zurhaar played the second half at half-back. He plucked an intercept grab midway through the third term before grabbing another in the fourth.

Josh Goater and Callum Coleman-Jones saw their first match sim minutes after the main break, with Goater instantly involved as he bounded off his line to receive a Davies-Uniacke handball before hitting up Sheezel.

Small forward Banch's courage was on display as he tracked a high ball only to get crunched by Charlie Comben, who was coming the other way to spoil.

Konstanty kicked a noteworthy goal, storming away from congestion and converting coolly on the run, earning praise from his teammates on the sideline.

McKercher began the final quarter on a mission, winning a handful of early contested possessions and clearances.

Parker capped off the session with a stunning long-range effort on goal from the boundary line which sailed through.

Charlie Spargo, Brayden George, Blake Thredgold, Jackson Archer, Luke Urquhart and Aidan Corr didn't participate in the match sim.