Daniel Wells is set to return from injury and add a silky edge to the North Melbourne midfield in Sunday’s AFL elimination final against West Coast.

But Wells insists he will have no hesitation in putting the team first if there’s any lingering doubts over the calf complaint which has sidelined him for the last three matches.

The 27-year-old will have to complete one final training session on Saturday before being declared a certain starter in the Kangaroos’ first final in four years.

“I was close to playing last week, but seeing the way GWS came out and went after us, it would have been too much of a risk,” he said on Thursday.

“Of course you’re always desperate to play in a final, but at the same time you have to have the courage to decide if you’re ready to go or not.

“I’ve played in games where you’re off a bit and there’s the possibility you can really become a liability to your team.

“But you play all year to play finals so I’ll be putting the best case forward to be able to to come back in.”

North Melbourne are particularly keen to welcome Wells back into the fray this weekend, with West Coast boasting one of the deepest midfields in the competition.

The two-pronged ruck division of Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui were both named in the 40-man All Australian squad this week, having provided armchair service all year to the likes of Daniel Kerr, Scott Selwood, Matt Priddis and Luke Shuey.

Selwood is likely to again get the tagging role on Wells in Sunday’s match at Patersons Stadium.

“It’s hard to get a kick on Selwood and he’s had a great season,” said Wells, who tied with skipper Andrew Swallow for last year’s club best and fairest award.

“You’ve got to watch him as much as he watches you because he’s so damaging with the ball.

“We think we can match it with them but the intensity has to stay really high for the whole game.”