TODD Goldstein remains in doubt for North Melbourne's blockbuster game against Geelong on Saturday night, with the All Australian ruckman needing to prove his fitness at training to take his place in the Roos' 22.

Goldstein missed North's win over Richmond last Friday after copping a knock to the knee a week earlier in the loss to the Sydney Swans. 

The ruckman told Channel Nine earlier this week he was almost certain to return against the Cats, saying he possibly could have played in the Richmond clash if it had been a final. 

But Scott told reporters Goldstein would not be risked against Geelong if the ruckman was not close to full fitness.

"I'm hopeful that he'll train today fully and if he does that and gets through, then obviously he'll come in and play, but again we'll watch him really closely at training and make sure he's 100 per cent," Scott said on Wednesday.

"I think the rough estimate last week was he was about 85 per cent, but we won't risk him unless he's 100 per cent or extremely close to it." 

Asked whether Goldstein's injury could become an on-going one if he was brought back too soon, Scott said North's medical staff were confident there was little risk of that. 

"It's structurally very sound, there's absolutely no problem there," Scott said of Goldstein's knee. 

"It's more just pain and function, more function than pain." 

North will have to replace Sam Wright this round, with the defender set to miss the next six to eight weeks with an ankle injury he suffered against the Tigers.

Scott said about six players were in line to replace Wright, suggesting the Roos might consider moving a midfielder back into defence so they could promote another midfielder from the VFL such as in-form Trent Dumont.