JESSE Smith is a chance to make a speedy return from a hamstring injury and play in North Melbourne’s round-one match against Melbourne.

Smith injured his hamstring in last month’s NAB Challenge match against Fremantle but coach Dean Laidley says the injury-plagued 22-year-old could be set for a prompt return.

“He started to do some running and hopefully he will be training by the end of next week and be right to play. I take my hat off (to him), he’s done a lot of work,” Laidley said.

“It’s unfortunate when you miss so much footy your mind can play tricks on you a bit. He felt his leg and came off the park pretty quickly.

“We were all pretty disappointed but the positive news was it wasn’t a hamstring strain or tear as such.

“ He did the right thing in coming off and we just need to get him back and going again. We’ll bring him along slowly.”

Smith’s teammate Daniel Pratt is also on the road to recovery after he suffered bruised ribs in the NAB Cup loss to Carlton.

Laidley said the club had applied for Pratt to play in the VFL this weekend with a view to a round-one return.

“We discussed that this afternoon. Do you play him in the VFL or do you give him a GPS session [and track his progress at training]?”

 “We’re a completely different side when he is in there. It is something our medicos and conditioning staff, along with the coaching staff, will make a decision but we’ve applied for him to play this weekend,” he said.

Laidley said senior players Daniel Harris and Corey Jones had performed well in the VFL over the past couple of weeks, while Robbie Tarrant had made a successful return after missing most of last year with a shoulder injury.