• The injury list: Your club's sidelined players

NORTH Melbourne's wretched run with injury has continued with forward Kayne Turner set to miss the next five weeks after suffering his third hamstring injury this season.

Playing in the VFL last Saturday, Turner injured the opposite hamstring to the one he had injured twice already this season, and now faces a race against time to return to North's senior team ahead of the finals.

The small forward returned in the VFL two rounds ago after missing the previous nine weeks with a hamstring tendon injury suffered in North's round six win over the Western Bulldogs.

Match preview: Collingwood v North Melbourne

Turner had completed two weeks of a four-week club-imposed suspension for a drink-driving offence in May before his latest injury, with his quest for a senior recall this year now looking tough.

"It hasn't been a great year for Kayne for a number of reasons and this latest setback is frustrating for him," North football director Geoff Walsh said.

"Early estimates are for a five-week rehabilitation period, so he could be back before the finals if all goes well."

If Turner returns to the field on schedule, he will have one round in the VFL to press his case for a spot in week one of the AFL finals.

Turner's chances of a recall aren't helped by the fact North's affiliate Werribee is almost certain to miss the finals in both the VFL and its development league, meaning North's fringe players won't have anywhere to play once the AFL finals start.

The 20-year-old has played only two senior games this season, but has missed just one of North's six finals over the past two years – and he was ruled out of that game, last year's elimination final against Richmond, with concussion.

Turner's hamstring troubles began in North's opening NAB Challenge game this year against St Kilda, when he was injured in the first quarter and did not play again for six weeks.

Turner joins a North injury list that includes Shaun Higgins (knee), Sam Wright (ankle), Ben Jacobs (foot), Luke McDonald (hamstring), Mason Wood (knee), Taylor Garner (hamstring), Farren Ray (hamstring), Aaron Black (ankle) and Mitchell Hibberd (knee).

Of that group, only Garner and Jacobs are expected to play in the next fortnight.