NORTH Melbourne is confident it won't be left badly exposed in defence in its season-opener against Fremantle despite the possible absence of its three best talls.
North is facing the daunting prospect of taking on a Dockers' forward line likely to consist of Rory Lobb (207cm), Matt Taberner (199cm) and Jesse Hogan (195cm), without Scott Thompson (suspension), Majak Daw (hips and pelvis) and Robbie Tarrant (AC joint).
Thompson and Daw definitely won't play, while Tarrant's hopes rest on him defying traditional recovery timeframes from surgery two weeks ago.
North defensive coach Rhyce Shaw told reporters on Wednesday Tarrant was doing everything he could to be fit for round one, but said the club, while hopeful, was not "putting any expectations" on their vice-captain.
Even if Tarrant is ultimately unavailable, Shaw believes the Kangaroos will have the key-position depth to cover the absence of their three first-choice backmen from last season.
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"I'm just really excited about the guys that we've got, the chance to work with a new group is fantastic and I'm looking forward to the next couple of games leading into round one," Shaw said.
"We've got a lot of key-position players that can play down there, the obvious one is probably Benny McKay who's played a few games so far for us down there and looked the goods.
"But we've certainly got a lot of options in those key positions, so I'm looking forward to seeing a few of those this week and definitely in JLT2."
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Shaw said Nick Larkey, who has played almost exclusively as a key forward in his two previous seasons at Arden St, was among the Roos talls who could be trialed in defence during the JTL Community Series.
The Swans premiership player expected "most" of North's recycled recruits – Jared Polec, Jasper Pittard, Aaron Hall, Dom Tyson and Tom Campbell – to play in the club's opening JLT game against St Kilda at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.
Shaw also said North's first two selections from last year's NAB AFL Draft, Tarryn Thomas and Bailey Scott, were in contention to make the expanded squad of 26 that will take on the Saints.
"We're certainly looking to expose some of our young guys and I think those guys will certainly be in the mix," he said.
"We've got to train today so it's still really early in the week, but I'm looking forward to seeing those guys run around."
The Roos are also likely to trial playing two ruckmen in the JLT Series, pairing former Bulldog Campbell with longtime No.1 ruckman Todd Goldstein.
"Todd has had a really good pre-season, one of his best just talking to him," Shaw said.
"But Tom has come along and done really well. I've been really impressed by what he's done as well.
"They've been battling it out throughout the pre-season. It will be good to see them go up against another ruckman."
