North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh is confident his only AFL match this season will not be his last for the Kangaroos.

McIntosh will finally return to the senior side for Sunday's twilight match against Richmond - the last game of the home and away season.

Two operations on his Achilles tendons in the pre-season set McIntosh back and then he struggled to break back into North's senior team.

There has also been speculation about whether McIntosh might leave North at the end of this year, but he made it clear on Tuesday he wants to stay at Arden St.

"Yes, I'm committed. I've signed a contract and I'm very happy at North Melbourne. They've been fantastic to me," he said.

"It's all been what the media said from the outside, but it's more important to me what's been said on the inside.

"Between Brad (coach Brad Scott) and (football operations manager) Donald McDonald and all the football staff, I'm very happy how it's tracking.

"I love North Melbourne and I look forward to hopefully playing here for another four or five years."

McIntosh would be in strong demand on the trade market, with clubs such as Richmond desperate for an established ruckman.

But the big 'Roo is much more interested in reforming the ruck combination with teammate Todd Goldstein, who has enjoyed a breakout year.

"When Todd and I are both fit and firing - that's what I'm looking forward to next year - Todd having a full pre-season and me having a full pre-season, getting into the side and being a really dangerous presence in this football side," he said.

"But first of all, I just want to get out there this week and play AFL footy again.

"It's been a year since I've played and I just wait to get out there and play with the boys."

McIntosh will reach his 100-game milestone against the Tigers and is keen to help give teammate Brady Rawlings a fitting send-off.

"I'm pretty excited. It's been a long, hard grind this year having started the year with a couple of surgeries on my Achilles," he said.

"It's a bit of reward for effort, really.

"It's great to be able to come in and get one game - it's my 100th - so that's great.

"And it's Brady's last game, so I can't wait to get out there on Sunday."

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