North Melbourne are set to move to lock in hard nut Jack Ziebell ahead of his contract season.

Ziebell, enjoying another strong year and finals campaign, is not off contract until the end of next year but it's understood his agents at Strategic Management and the Kangaroos have opened preliminary negotiations.

Keen to stay: Jack Ziebell has made it clear he wants to remain at Arden Street. Credit:AFL Media/Getty Images

Ziebell, 24, who shares the vice-captaincy with Drew Petrie, has made it clear he wants to remain at Arden Street, where has already been anointed by president James Brayshaw as a likely successor to skipper Andrew Swallow.