While doubts still linger over Aaron Sandilands’ fitness for Sunday's match as he recovers from a heavy knock to the eye, North Melbourne's number one big man refuses to change his preparations.

Todd Goldstein says the 211cm giant always looms as an enormous challenge and expects him to step out onto Patersons Stadium.

"It's always a daunting task coming up against Sandilands for the rucks and for the team in general," Goldstein told Perth's 6PR.

"He's a good player. You've just got to try and do your best and nullify his work."

Now in his fifth season at the club, the number 22 has taken on more responsibility following an injury to Hamish McIntosh in the pre-season.

"It's been a really good experience for me. The couple of games that Hamish missed last year when I was rucking alone really did give me the confidence that I can last games out."

Goldstein says he'll have his work cut out this week though against a formidable Dockers' line-up. Fremantle defied the odds when Sandilands was forced to leave the field last week, defeating Adelaide by 25 points, and is sure to be an even more intimidating opponent on home soil.

"I thought when Sandilands went off, Adelaide could run over them but they hung in there. They are a very good side, we saw that last year and not much has changed since 2010," Goldstein added.

North Melbourne will hold its main training session on Thursday with all eyes on the squad announcement at 5pm. The team will then fly to Perth on Saturday afternoon for the second time in a month and will be aiming for a change of fortunes after a defeat at the hands of West Coast in round one.

"It gave some of our young boys, that haven't played up there before, a good chance to see the ground. It is a very different ground. It's a lot bigger than Aegis Park that we're used to training on. It really gave young boys like Shaun Atley and Cameron Richardson a good chance of what it's going to be like and hopefully that experience can really help them this week."

Stay tuned to kangaroos.com.au for all the selection news, as well as comments from coach Brad Scott's weekly press conference.