INJURY-cursed North Melbourne defender Sam Wright will make his latest on-field comeback in a VFL practice match on Saturday night. 

The good news about Wright comes as teammate Taylor Garner (groin) prepares to miss a second straight week.

Wright, 27, last played in the AFL in round 11 two years ago, but has since struggled with repeat foot and ankle setbacks that restricted him to three VFL games in 2017. 

He and Ben Jacobs, who has battled a long-term foot problem, made the radical decision in the off-season to turn to Australian Ballet's principal physiotherapist, Sue Mayes, for a solution. 

Mayes has treated the Roos footballers and taught them foot and ankle-strengthening exercises, and Jacobs played his first AFL match in almost two years in Cairns on Saturday.

Wright's return will come for the Kangaroos' new VFL side against Collingwood at the Holden Centre from 6.30pm on Saturday after he targeted this match earlier in March. 

He joined the main training group in February and will likely play multiple VFL games before being in contention for senior selection. 

"It's obviously been a long time coming for Sam, but he's done a mountain of work in rehab," North's GM Football Cameron Joyce said. 

"Sam has been extremely diligent and professional in the manner in which he's applied himself during his extensive recovery and we're confident that all the hard work will pay off and allow him to have an uninterrupted run.

"He's a player of the highest quality and when he does return to the AFL, he'll be a welcome addition for us." 

Garner, 24, suffered a groin strain at training a fortnight ago and this is just the latest obstacle in an injury marred career to date.

The 2012 first-round draft pick played 18 of his 34 games last year in an encouraging campaign where he kicked 16 goals and averaged almost 16 disposals.