NORTH Melbourne midfielder Daniel Wells was absent from training at Arden Street on Tuesday as he struggles to overcome a calf injury. 

Wells has missed the last two matches. The Kangaroos have lost four straight games to fall to eighth position after a 9-0 start to the season.

The 31-year-old lined up only twice for North in 2015 after struggling to overcome an Achilles issue, while a foot complaint hampered him the previous season.

Kangaroos forward Ben Brown was optimistic Wells could return to face Port Adelaide on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.

Match preview: North Melbourne v Port Adelaide

"He wasn't out there today, but it's just a recovery run day," Brown said.

"(There are) two days until our main skills (session) and I expect him to be out there."

Jarrad Waite took part in the indoor component of the training session before moving into the gym, despite a hip injury meaning he has not played since the round 12 clash against Geelong.

Brown thinks Waite will be fit to face the Power.

"He was pretty close last week. He actually came out and trained during our main training, towards the end last week," Brown said.

"He actually looked really good, so this week there's no reason why he shouldn't be playing."

Nick Dal Santo did not train either as he continues to recover from the illness that saw him as a late out in the loss to West Coast on Sunday.

A rolled left ankle for Majak Daw early in Werribee's game on Sunday meant he used a crutch for support on Tuesday. He took part in stationary handball drills but did nothing else.

The club is hopeful he can be fit for selection this week.

Brown said although the growing injury list hasn't helped North's form, he pointed to other problems that could be rectified.

"It's more than the players we've had injured. We've got a few things to work on structurally," he said.

The 200cm big man kicked a brilliant goal from the boundary against the Eagles, among a bag of four.

It wasn't just his teammates he received congratulations from.

"Jeremy McGovern actually said 'great goal, mate', while we were laying on the ground. I kind of had a bit of a laugh at that," Brown said.

Some have already crowned it as the Goal of the Year, but Brown wasn't interested in joining the discussion.

"I'm not going to plug my goal," he said with a laugh.