Majak Daw has taken a huge step in his remarkable AFL comeback bid, firing down back in North Melbourne's intra-club match.
The popular 28-year-old hasn't featured at the top-level since 2018, but he impressed during Friday's hit-out at Arden St.
Daw played four VFL games last year after courageously overcoming serious hip and pelvic injuries suffered during a fall from the Bolte Bridge in December 2018.
He was pushing for a recall to the senior team in July, before hurting a hamstring and missing the rest of the season.
Daw remains right in contention to add to his 50 career games when the Kangaroos battle St Kilda in round one.
North defender Jasper Pittard said Daw's re-emergence had been welcome in the Kangaroos' back-six.
"He's been building nicely the whole pre-season really so it was really good to see him doing what he does best," Pittard told reporters.
"It was good to see Majak get a few spoils in there today.
"With his injury and then coming back last year, have to be pretty cautious.
"He's pretty much train Monday and Friday and we keep him quiet in the middle part of the week to make sure, come round one, he's ready to go.
"He looks fit as he always does; he doesn't have to try too hard like the rest of us."
Daw had the task of keeping promising forward Nick Larkey quiet in the first-half, with the pair's duel making for compelling viewing.
It was a quieter last two quarters for Daw, who stayed in defence, but switched to the more dominant North team and had less work to do.
Hard-bodied midfielder Ben Cunnington pushed forward with great success, while GWS recruit Aidan Bonar fitted in seamlessly.
But there are injury concerns for North, with star forward Ben Brown, captain Jack Ziebell, Jared Polec and key defender Robbie Tarrant all sitting out the game.
Although Brown was seen in good spirits at Arden St after suffering a minor calf strain at training on Thursday.
"We'll find out a bit later, but he (Brown) doesn't look too stressed about it," Pittard said.