JARRAD Waite is a last-minute withdrawal from North Melbourne's clash with Brisbane at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

He injured his calf in the warm-up and was replaced by debutant Tom Murphy.

The 35-year-old Waite has been in good touch for the Kangaroos this year with 22 goals from 10 games and has formed a dangerous combination with Ben Brown.

Murphy, 20, was selected by the Kangaroos with the No.4 selection overall at the NAB AFL Rookie Draft last November.

Second-year midfielder Jarrod Berry is a late scratching for Brisbane, failing to overcome hamstring soreness in time to face the Roos.

Berry, 20, has played 26 of a possible 32 games and averaged 15 disposals since the Lions selected him at No.17 in the 2016 AFL Draft.

Ben Keays, who was an emergency multiple times this season, comes in for his first game for 2018 and 27th overall.

The Kangaroos are unchanged, with indigenous midfielder Paul Ahern to make his long-awaited AFL debut.

FOLLOW IT LIVE: Watch the Roos and the Lions

Greater Western Sydney selected Ahern with the No.7 pick in the 2014 AFL Draft, but shipped him to the Roos two years later after the 21-year-old required two knee reconstructions that season.

He missed all of last year recovering from his right knee injury, but some strong VFL form in 2018, including a 27-disposal effort last weekend, earned him a spot in Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

Ahern and Majak Daw, who was rested last week after an encouraging start to his transition into a defender, return for North for Ryan Clarke and Sam Durdin.

The Lions recalled Ryan Lester as a replacement for Matt Eagles (abductor).

North Melbourne has won its past four meetings with the Lions by an average of almost 10 goals.

Brisbane's last win over the Kangas was by four points in round 15, 2014.

North Melbourne v Brisbane at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm AEST

LATE CHANGES
North Melbourne: Jarrad Waite (calf) replaced in selected side by Tom Murphy
Brisbane: Jarrod Berry (hamstring soreness) replaced in selected side by Ben Keays

FINAL INTERCHANGES
North Melbourne: Paul Ahern, Jy Simpkin, Sam Wright, Billy Hartung
Brisbane: Ben Keays, Cam Rayner, Alex Witherden, Zac Bailey