North Melbourne star forward Nick Larkey could face a match-day fitness test to determine if he plays against the Western Bulldogs.
Larkey, a four-time leading goalkicker at the Kangaroos, missed Thursday training because of a corked thigh, but he was named in the team later that day.
North coach Alastair Clarkson is "pretty confident" the 26-year-old will pass a fitness test, which could be delayed until Saturday morning ahead of that night's Marvel Stadium encounter against the Bulldogs.
"We didn't want to train him today, just to allow that (injury) to settle down a little bit," Clarkson told reporters.
"We're hoping he is going to be as good as gold by the weekend.
"Not ideal, but he has had a great summer and that is why I will give him every chance to be able to play.
"We just need to determine if it (the fitness test) is tomorrow or Saturday, but we're pretty confident, and so is he, that he's going to be able to play.
"But we just want to see him at full stretch and see that he's OK to get through a game of footy."
Clarkson had already announced highly rated Finn O'Sullivan, taken with pick two at last year's draft, will make his AFL debut.
"Hopefully our fans can see another young player coming through who hopefully they can track for another 10 or 12 years," Clarkson said of the 18-year-old midfielder.
"He has got real good composure with the ball in hand and knows how to find it.
"Wiry is probably the description of his body build at the moment, but despite him being so wiry he has got pretty good strength through his hips and is hard to tackle.
"That composure and capacity to stay on his feet and see what is going on in a game, he just looks like he has got a lot of time with the ball.
"I'm sure once he starts playing some games, our fans will pretty quickly fall in love with him, if they haven't already done so."
Former Swans captain Luke Parker, ex-Eagle Jack Darling, ex-Swan Jacob Konstanty and former Bulldog Caleb Daniel have been named for their Kangaroos debuts.
The Bulldogs have handed AFL debuts to Sam Davidson and Josh Dolan, while former Carlton and GWS utility Matt Kennedy was also named.
