Former North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow faces a tough battle to revive his AFL career after being dropped five games into the season.

The winless Kangaroos have sprung a selection shock, dropping Swallow and fellow veteran Lindsay Thomas for Saturday’s clash against Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium.

They have been replaced by speedster Jed Anderson and gun midfielder Shaun Higgins, who missed last week with a hamstring injury.

A three-time best and fairest winner, Swallow has been in lacklustre form to start the season, averaging just 16 disposals per game and often looking off the pace.

With the Kangaroos in rebuild mode, the 29-year-old has spent long stints in the forward line in a change to his usual inside-midfield role.

Former teammate Nick Dal Santo, one of several veterans to leave the club at the end of last season after not being offered a new contract, believes Swallow could be next on the chopping block.

“Obviously there were some hard decisions made last year. This might be the second wave of that coming through,” Dal Santo told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“I think if Andrew and a few of these other players are realistic, they can see it coming too.

“If you look at him statistically over the past month, he just doesn’t warrant a position.”

Dal Santo had earlier suggested coach Brad Scott was looking to move Swallow out of the side by taking him out of his preferred position.

But Scott on Thursday said he expected both Swallow and Thomas to find form and fight their way back into the team.

“Both are outstanding professionals and they will respond in the way we’ve come to expect of them,” Scott told the Kangaroos’ website.

“Lindsay, in particular, has been in this position before and he knows what he has to do.

“In Andrew’s case, it’s just about regaining some confidence and overcoming some minor injury niggles.

“I’m sure both players will return to their best very quickly and will force their way back in sooner rather than later.”

A 213-game veteran, Swallow captained the Kangaroos for five seasons before handing the reins to Jack Ziebell.

The tough ball-winner has racked up 1407 career tackles – the fourth-most in AFL history.