Forward Matt Campbell (North Ballarat reserves), defenders Lachie Hansen (Werribee reserves) and Daniel Pratt (North Ballarat seniors) and draftee Liam Anthony (North Ballarat reserves) will all resume at the lower level with Campbell, Hansen and Pratt aiming for a round 11 AFL return against St Kilda.
Anthony, flagged for a round one opportunity before sustaining a foot stress fracture, will push to be North's sixth debutant of 2009 once he gains match fitness.
Campbell and Hansen have been sidelined with hamstring injuries while Pratt had surgery after round six to clean up knee cartilage. He had also torn his medial ligament.
"We have had a very long injury list and can’t afford any recurrences," coach Dean Laidley said from Arden Street on Friday morning.
Laidley added that North’s opponent on Saturday, the Brisbane Lions, were very good against the undefeated Saints last weekend, but hoped the height of his players could be the difference.
While key position player Mitch Clark and utility Jared Brennan have shouldered the Lions' ruck duties, North has found room in its side for Hamish McIntosh, Drew Petrie, David Hale and Todd Goldstein.
"Our two ruckmen (McIntosh and Goldstein) are going to be really important to us," Laidley said.
"St Kilda last week won the stoppages and got some good scores from the clearances. We'll be trying to make that a real advantage for us."
Recalling Levi Greenwood for his third game, North will field each of this season's debutants with Laidley acknowledging the challenge for his defenders.
Nathan Grima could get the job on Daniel Bradshaw or Jonathan Brown to mark just his third outing.
The spearheads combined for 22 goals in their last two games against the Roos.
"Brown and Bradshaw have caused us all sorts of grief over the journey but we've still managed to win games of football against them," Laidley said.
"We know and understand that they're going to kick goals. We've just got to make sure we kick more.
"The development of the guys has been very good," he continued. "Throw in the development of Goldstein, (Gavin) Urquhart and these guys and it's great.
"We'll have maybe 11 or 12 under 50 games. It's our future and we'll continue to go that way."
North has had an extra day's break than the Lions and, in three quarters of matches this season, the side with the longer lay-off has prevailed.
"Let’s hope we’re in that 75 per cent," Laidley said.
"It’s more about being focused for us, making sure we’ve got the right mix of guys for our 22.
"It's a great stat but they're a very good side."
Laidley also renewed calls for supporters to attend Saturday's game.
However, he agreed that while the club lost money for its below-par attendances against Port Adelaide (14,342 patrons) and Fremantle (15,436), the home ground advantage had still been important in those victories.
"It's a lot easier playing Fremantle at Etihad rather than Subiaco or perhaps even on the Gold Coast," he said.
Williamstown vs. North Ballarat
Sunday 31st May
Burbank Oval at 2:00 PM
North Ballarat seniors:
B: Watt Moloney Greig
HB: Sharkey Searl Pratt
C: Roach Clifton Richardson
HF: Jones Cartledge Spolding
F: Garlett Jo. Smith Driscoll
R: Stephenson Goodes White
Int: Sewell W. Benjamin Wundke Feery Bell McMahon McHugh Hall
Reserves:
B: Hall Niblett Limb
HB: McHugh Dickinson C. Benjamin
C: Beardsell Anthony Linke
HF: Bell Caldow McMahon
F: Campbell Boyd Dinnell
R: Orvis McKenzie Peters
Int: Murnane Todd T. George Raworth Neurath Radley Micallef Davies
Coburg Tigers vs. Werribee Tigers
Sunday 31st May
ABD Group Stadium at 2:00 PM
Werribee Tigers seniors:
B: Barlow Howard Chisholm
HB: Sharp Delaney Saker
C: Riggio Rockefeller Harris
HF: Baddeley Obst Greenwood
F: Kenelley Pask, Martiniello
R: Banjanin Gleeson Castello
Int: Bryce Speight Kennedy Dickson Haby Black Quigley Meredith
Reserves:
B: Kovacevic Hudson Kennedy
HB: Meredith Hansen Prismall
C: Quigley Wormald Dickson
HF: Risol O'Keefe Bryce
F: Magnabosco Haby Speight
R: Gardiner Boyle Black
Int: Latella Lawson Robbins Palmer Short McKerracher Hardy Normington Fletcher Lunardi Sheean
