SAM GIBSON is in doubt for North Melbourne's clash against the Sydney Swans in Hobart on Saturday after suffering a broken nose and minor facial injuries in a gym accident on Tuesday.



North coach Brad Scott told reporters on Wednesday he was optimistic Gibson would be available to take on the Swans and continue his remarkable run of 105 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the AFL.



Scott was also "really hopeful" Ben Brown (knee) and Scott Thompson (groin) would return in the same game after missing last week's loss against Hawthorn.



Scott said Gibson had been hit in the head by a barbell after slipping in the gym and had suffered a broken nose and "a pretty nasty gash on his face".



"He's not OK, he's pretty sore at the moment," Scott said.



"But the fortunate thing was it happened here, it happened with our club doctor here and he was sent to hospital just to rule out any facial fractures, which he's clear of.



"He's a bit uncomfortable but we're still really optimistic he'll be available to play this week."



Scott said Brown and Thompson would have to prove their fitness on the training track this week to play against the Swans at Blundstone Arena.



"We're really hopeful they'll be available but training will probably have the biggest say on that. We're hopeful but not certain," the Roos coach said.



North could also welcome back run-with midfielder Ben Jacobs and defender Sam Wright this week after both made successful returns from long-term injuries in the VFL last Sunday.



"We'll just have to make a decision on how ready they are to play. They're both medically passed fit to play so now it becomes a match committee decision," Scott said.



"We'll base that decision largely on the amount of work they've done and how they look at training."



The Roos have a host of other players on the brink of returning from long-term injuries.



Scott said Luke McDonald (hamstring) was expected to return this round, most likely in the VFL, while Shaun Higgins (knee) had not been ruled out from playing this weekend but was more likely to return in round 23.



Spearhead Jarrad Waite has also made a quicker than expected recovery from hip surgery two weeks ago, with Scott "optimistic" the key forward could return for the Roos' final home and away game against Greater Western Sydney next Saturday night.



"All of these guys we've got to stagger them back in and we've got some big decisions to make as to who we bring back in and when we bring them back in," Scott said.



After winning just three of 11 matches since a club record 9-0 start to 2016, North could still miss the finals if it loses its final two matches (Swans; Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium) and Melbourne wins its final two (Carlton at the MCG; Geelong at Simonds Stadium).



But Scott said North was not looking over its shoulder at the charging Demons.



"We're looking to play our best footy to make an impact in September and it's not about just getting there. That would insinuate that we were happy to finish eighth – we're not happy to finish eighth," he said.



"Once round 23 is done there's a week off before eight clubs get to launch an assault on the finals and that's what we're looking at.



"But we're going to have to play some pretty good footy in the next two weeks to get that opportunity."