The only thing worse for North Melbourne than a rampaging Jonathan Brown champing at the bit in his AFL comeback would be an angry, rampaging Jonathan Brown.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott, a master of intimidation in his playing days, also was a long-time team-mate of Brown's at Brisbane.

His message to the Kangaroos defence for Brown's expected comeback on Saturday night at the `Gabba will be simple - don't niggle him.

Pending a medical clearance on Thursday, it will be the first match for the Lions skipper since he suffered severe facial injuries in a round-one collision.

"I've said regularly, you don't rough up superstars," Scott said.

"The only time you would try to intimidate or rough someone up is if you thought you could get an advantage.

"Roughing Browny up has only spurred him on in the past, so we won't be going down that path."

Scott not only expects Brown to play, but to come back strongly.

He has vivid memories of the star forward tearing Essendon apart with eight goals in his first game of the season six years ago.

Regardless of how the game pans out, Scott can see a positive side to Brown playing.

"I was hoping - I don't know what's involved in the surgeon's clearance, but I imagine it will just be a box-ticking exercise.

"I don't think any surgeon will keep Browny away from the `Gabba on Saturday night.

"It's good for us, it's going to be terrific for our young defenders."

But the task for North's defence became even harder on Tuesday night when Nathan Grima broke a finger at training.

He will need surgery and it will put him out of action for up to a month.

Robbie Tarrant, Scott Thompson and Michael Firrito are the candidates to line up on Brown, but Scott stressed the need for North to restrict Brisbane's ball supply to their captain.

"The best way to stop him is to keep the ball up the other end of the ground," Scott said.

"There is no proven formula to stop Jonathan Brown, at his best he's the best key forward in the game.

"We won't be relying on one player to do the job, it will be multiple players and certainly trying to get the ball up the other end of the ground as much as possible."

While North are coming off a strong comeback win over Melbourne, the Lions are winless so far this season.

But Scott noted Brisbane still have several star players and are not far off a win.

"If they put it together, they can be quite damaging," Scott said.

"They'll all walk taller a little bit with Jonathan Brown this week, they're going to be a daunting challenge."

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