North Melbourne's top-four AFL aspirations continued to climb on Monday, when ruckman Hamish McIntosh declared himself ready to return from a knee injury, against Carlton on Sunday.

McIntosh damaged the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Fremantle in round 12 as the Roos copped a heavy loss and fell out of the eight.

But in a further boost to the club's revival in the second half of the season, which currently stands at five successive wins, McIntosh told the Nine Network he had been amazed how quickly he had regained fitness after initially fearing the worst.

"I thought an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) when I did it," said the club's No.1 ruckman, who finished fourth in last year's best and fairest award.

"But a PCL, you think 10 weeks and I thought the season, but it's amazing how quickly the strength comes back and how much your fitness can come back that quick.

"Now it feels good and I'm ready to play again."

North coach Dean Laidley said after Sunday's win over the Western Bulldogs that McIntosh was ready to resume and he would be happy to add him to a die including big men David Hale, Drew Petrie and Nathan Thompson.

But Thompson remains in some doubt after he suffered an ankle injury on Sunday.

North (fifth) are currently locked on 46 points with fourth-placed Sydney, and could be best-placed to earn the double chance this weekend, if they beat the Blues (10th) and ladder leader Geelong beat the Swans.

In more encouragement for the Kangaroos, rover Brent Harvey was on Monday installed as the new favourite to win the Brownlow Medal, ahead of Geelong pair Gary Ablett and Jimmy Bartel, the reigning medallist.

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