North Melbourne defender Lachie Hansen may still miss round one despite returning to full fitness after hip surgery.
Hansen, 26, had both hips operated on in the off-season and undertook a gruelling rehabilitation process in a bid to be available for the Kangaroos' season-opener against the Crows in Adelaide on Sunday.
However, it appears the important backman may have fallen just short of his goal, with coach Brad Scott concerned by his lack of match fitness.
"He's certainly ready to get into full training, so we'll have to make an assessment on how he trains and his level of conditioning because it won't be match conditioning," Scott said on Monday.
"We'll have a choice to make there, I suspect. I think he'll be medically cleared to play, but that doesn't mean that the coaches tick off that it's in our best interests to play him. "But the good news for us is he's getting really close to being available."
Scott backed Robbie Tarrant, a former forward who has been recast as a defender, to help cover the absence of Hansen and Nathan Grima, who is recovering from back surgery.
Hard-at-it utility Leigh Adams definitely won't make the trip to Adelaide after suffering a concussion in a VFL practice match last week.
Adams also missed North's finals campaign last year with a concussion, but Scott bristled at suggestions his career may be in jeopardy after his latest head knock.
"The fact is he's got an appointment with a specialist in a week's time and then we'll have some more information," he said.
"Right at the moment (talk of retirement) is pure speculation."
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