Daniel Currie of the Kangaroos rucks against Gold Coast's Zac Smith. Source: Herald Sun
NORTH Melbourne's ruck conundrum will go down to the wire with the Roos considering a shock call-up for back-up big man Daniel Currie.
The Roos remain undecided on whether to select Todd Goldstein or newly acquired Currie for Sunday's clash against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium.
It is unlikely coach Brad Scott will call on both for the Round 1 battle, with Drew Petrie and Lachlan Hansen also able to provide ruck support.
In another selection issue, former Gold Coast defender Taylor Hine is also in line to make his Roos debut as a back-pocket replacement for suspended backman Scott McMahon.
An All-Australian candidate in 2011, Goldstein is widely considered the Roos' first ruckman and remains slight favourite to lead the ruck department against the Pies.
But Currie's strong form over the pre-season could yet catapult the former Swan ahead of his highly rated teammate, with another impressive performance in Thursday's main training session.
Chief of football Donald McDonald said the club had a tough decision to make, with Majak Daw third in line as a developing ruck-forward.
"What's good is Daniel's come in and shown that he can compete at that level after he came to the club as a replacement for Hamish (McIntosh).
"And Goldy has had a good pre-season as well, so it's a good one for Brad (Scott)," McDonald said.
"Maj has been good in the practice matches as well, so the (match committee) guys have an opportunity to collect their thoughts after training on Thursday."
While Daw is more likely to miss the Pies clash, McDonald said the promoted rookie had shown encouraging signs over the pre-season.
"His marking has been good, but Maj also knows he still has a lot of work to do; he's the first to admit that," he said.
"He's still got some areas of his game he needs to work on.
"He's a late-comer to the game but everyone would love to see him out there."
Hine, 21, played nine games at Gold Coast and has impressed as a tough and hard-running tagger or backman over North's pre-season.
The Roos have welcomed the season-opening acid test against Collingwood after upsetting the heavyweights by 30 points in Round 21 last year.
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