NORTH Melbourne rookie Cruize Garlett will be sidelined for at least four weeks after injuring his ankle at training on Monday.

Garlett sustained the injury when a teammate fell across him during tackling drills and will spend the next fortnight in a moon boot.

The 20-year-old had enjoyed a full pre-season and assistant coach Darren Bewick said this month that Garlett was pushing for elevation to the senior list.

"[It] has really got to a stage where if we had an injury to the main list, Cruize would be seriously looked at to be promoted," Bewick said.

"As with the other rookies, his main goal now is to get himself in a position come round 11 or 12 – with the new rule coming in – if we require a midfielder, he'll be the one we put up to the list.

"He has really worked hard with his fitness and his body. The way he's approaching his footy on and off the ground is a real credit to him."

Originally from Perth, Garlett was rookie-listed by North in December 2007 and spent last year with North Ballarat.

He was a member of the Roosters' VFL premiership side.

However, Garlett's elite-level prospects found another gear when representing the Qantas AFL Indigenous All-Stars against Adelaide in Darwin last month.

"Cruize started in the middle with (Andrew) McLeod and Shaun Burgoyne and Lindsay (Thomas) was saying he (Garlett) was actually directing traffic, telling them where to set up," North teammate Daniel Wells said. "It just shows how much he's grown.

"He's worked his backside off, he works extremely hard. One thing about him is he's got really clean hands and is good in tight situations. He's like Daniel Harris.

"There's every chance when it comes around that time [for elevation] ... he would be pretty stiff if he didn't get a look-in. Cruize has just got to keep doing what he's done to get in that position. He's doing everything he can."

North also revealed that defender Jesse Smith (hamstring) would miss the next four to six weeks after suffering a setback in his rehabilitation last Wednesday.

Club doctor Con Mitropoulos will confirm Smith's situation on Thursday.

A shin stress reaction continues to trouble midfielder Matt Riggio, who is still at least two weeks away from a return.