North Melbourne coach Brad Scott thinks the sub rule could help Brent Harvey break into the AFL's elite 400-game club.
However 365-game veteran Harvey said on Tuesday he'd prefer to get to the milestone his own way, thanks very much.
Despite turning 36 next month, Harvey's reluctant to embrace becoming a super sub.
And on current form, who could blame him?
Harvey started the season with the club under siege following a 39-point loss to Essendon in round one.
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After his best-afield performance in round two against the Western Bulldogs, the 167cm forward was a key contributor with three goals including two in the final term in North's seven-point win over last season's semi-finalists Port Adelaide on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.
"There is no reason to say he wouldn't keep playing next year and beyond," Scott told SEN Radio on Tuesday.
"I also think the sub rule is going to help because he would be a devastating little sub coming on half way through the third quarter."
The pacey Harvey doesn't see himself watching the first half from the bench each week as 32-year-old goalsneak Daniel Giansiracusa does for the Western Bulldogs, for example.
"I don't know. I'd like to think that Brad still needs me in the 21," Harvey told a media conference.
Tenth-placed North (2-1) face 11th-placed Sydney (1-2) at the SCG on Sunday in a crucial encounter for the home side, who were widely tipped in pre-season to battle Hawthorn and Fremantle for the premiership.
North haven't beaten Sydney since 2007.
"I know Sydney is one of the teams that Brad hasn't won against," Harvey said.
"He made us aware of that last year and we didn't come through with the goods for him.
"They've been a good outfit for a long long time so it's going to be a very tough game for us.
"After the weekend, the boys go in with enormous confidence.
"We played Port Adelaide and they're very fit. Our last quarter showed we're just as fit, if not fitter."
Harvey said North's pre-season was the biggest he'd ever endured.
"So we've got enormous confidence in the way we can run out games," he said.
Jamie Macmillan is expected to miss six weeks with a fractured fibula however the Kangaroos are hoping to inject vice-captain Jack Ziebell back into their midfield on Sunday.
Harvey says Ziebell's shoulder injury is improving and he's very close to being available this week.
