Mason Wood is set to make his return from a thumb injury in Wednesday night’s JLT Community Series clash against Richmond.

The forward suffered a tiny fracture during an intra-club match in early February, and missed the opening pre-season game against Melbourne.

Jy Simpkin is also in the squad as well as rookie Tom Murphy after an impressive pre-season campaign in defence.

Recruited from the Dandenong Stingrays, Murphy was a teammate of fellow youngster Luke Davies-Uniacke at under-18 level, and boasts a penetrating right boot.

Big man Braydon Preuss will get his chance to impress alongside Todd Goldstein in the ruck, while forward Taylor Garner is also among the inclusions.

North Melbourne

B: M.Williams, R.Tarrant, R.Clarke

HB: J.Macmillan, S.Thompson, S.Atley

C: B.Hartung, L.Davies-Uniacke, B.Jacobs

HF: M.Wood, J.Waite, J.Ziebell

F: T.Garner, B.Brown, K.Turner

Foll: T.Goldstein, S.Higgins, B.Cunnington

I/C: T.Dumont, M.Hibberd, N.Hrovat, T.Murphy, B.Preuss, J.Simpkin, E.Vickers-Willis, C.Zurhaar

In: M.Wood, T.Garner, J.Simpkin, B.Preuss, T.Murphy, J Macmillan

Out: A.Morgan, B.McKay, L.McDonald (rested), N.Larkey, S.Durdin, M.Daw

Notable absentees: Majak Daw, Luke McDonald, Jed Anderson, Sam Wright