Six goals in the VFL last week may not be enough to guarantee Nathan Thompson a return to the North Melbourne line-up for Sunday's clash with Melbourne.
Dropped for the first time in his four seasons with the Kangaroos for last Friday night's win over Collingwood, Thompson responded strongly with a dominant display up forward for Werribee.
But according to North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley, there are several factors including form, match-ups and fitness the selectors will take into account in deciding whether the 30-year-old warrants a recall.
"We've put him on a program and whether our strength and conditioning people think that's helped him in just the one week we'll sort that out with them," Laidley said at Arden Street on Thursday morning.
"Whether he needs another week - the VFL have a bye this week so if he doesn’t play in the seniors he doesn't play - but I'm sure we'll work that out over the next few hours."
North needs to find a replacement for youngster Ben Ross who will miss at least two matches with ankle ligament damage, but Laidley said he would prefer to bring in a midfielder rather than a forward.
"Whether that's Matt Riggio or Jess Sinclair or a Blake Grima comes back in, I imagine it will be one of those guys," he said.
Laidley declared defender Daniel Pratt, who is still a bit proppy after turning an ankle against the Magpies, a 'definite starter' for Sunday.
After stating categorically last week that running defender Jesse Smith would not play again in 2008 because of ongoing problems with his ankle and hamstrings, Laidley appeared to soften his stance on Thursday.
"Jesse Smith's on a strengthening program for his legs and it will be really interesting to see how he comes up … (but) whether he plays again, we're not too sure, this year," Laidley said.
"It's probably a bit more positive because Jesse wants to play and it's probably positive from a medical point of view, but if I had my way, I wouldn't play him for the rest of the year."
"I just think let's get it right and make sure he plays every game next year and don't take any chances, but I'm not the boss in that area."