NORTH Melbourne could enter Saturday's clash against Hawthorn without forward Ben Brown and defender Scott Thompson, who are both under serious injury clouds.

However, it isn’t all bad news for the Roos with Ben Jacobs, Luke McDonald and Sam Wright potentially in contention for selection pending fitness tests this week.

North Melbourne will be looking to get one back on the Hawks, who beat them in a fiery clash in Round 13 at Etihad Stadium.

Recent form
After a strong start to the season, North Melbourne have had an up-and-down past five weeks, recording two wins and three losses.

After suffering losses to West Coast (32 points) and Port Adelaide (28 points) in rounds 16 and 17, they were able to string together two solid wins against Collingwood (40 points) and St Kilda (23 points) in the following rounds.

Last week however they were unable to make it three in row, falling short to a strong Western Bulldogs outfit (14 points).

Key players
While the Roos will be without big men Jarrad Waite and Mason Wood, both of whom have been sidelined with in-season surgeries, Ben Brown could be crucial to their structure. Brown, who leads the club's goalkicking tally with 36 majors, is under an injury cloud of landing awkwardly in North’s Round 20 clash with the Dogs.

In the absence of Hawthorn’s Ben Stratton, small forward Lindsay Thomas could play an important role in stretching the Hawks’ backline at a ground level.

Potential changes
North Melbourne may be forced to make multiple changes.

With Waite out and Brown and Thompson also under injury the clouds, the likes of key utility Lachlan Hansen, small forward Robbie Nahas, midfielders Ben Jacobs and Declan Mountford could all be in the mix.