NORTH Melbourne has lot one plank of its three-pronged forward line with Jarrad Waite a late withdrawal ahead of Saturday night's clash with Hawthorn, while as widely expected Hawks forward Paul Puopolo has been ruled out with injury.

Waite has been replaced by Aaron Black with North announcing on its official Twitter account that the spearhead had a hamstring injury. 

Puopolo (quadriceps) was replaced by Brendan Whitecross. 

North had been expected to stretch a Hawks' defence missing talls Brian Lake and James Frawley with its key forwards Drew Petrie, Ben Brown and Waite. 

But Black is not as strong a contested mark as Waite, which could ease the pressure on Hawk defenders Josh Gibson, Ben Stratton and Ryan Schoenmakers in aerial contests.

Kayne Turner will start as the Roos' substitute, while Whitecross will don the green vest for the Hawks.