Kangaroos forward Nathan Thompson just missed out on playing in Saturday's AFL preliminary final against Port Adelaide and capping a remarkable return from a knee reconstruction.

Coach Dean Laidley confirmed he and his assistant coaches were so close to picking Thompson that the club sought permission from the AFL to have the 29-year-old taken off the long-term injured list.

Despite the move, the Roos opted to stick with the same side which beat Hawthorn in last weekend's semi-final for the trip to AAMI Stadium.

Thompson however remains a chance for a recall should the Kangaroos win through to the grand final, having undergone a knee reconstruction in March after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a pre-season game.

"The coaches to and fro'd about it and that was probably the biggest decision all week to the point where, he's been on the long-term injury list and we rang the AFL to see if we could get him off it and perhaps pick him," Laidley said.

"In the end, we decided against it."

Thompson - the Roos' leading goal kicker last year - has been training well for several weeks and has urged Laidley to select him on an almost daily basis for the past six weeks.

Laidley declined to outline why Thompson was eventually overlooked, but left open the possibility of him being picked for the grand final.

"If I'm standing here next week you can ask me then," he said.

Utility Kasey Green also became eligible for selection this week after serving a two-game suspension, but was also overlooked.

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