HEADING into Sunday's clash with North Melbourne with three wins and two losses, Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos has described the need for a win as “critical”.

However, Roos showed an unwavering faith in his side by naming Queenslander Jesse White to make his debut against the Kangaroos.

"We're pleased so far," he said on Friday. "We had a narrow loss to St Kilda [in the opening round] and a pretty good game against Geelong last week in our two losses.

"This is pretty even competition. We're blooding some young fellas and we had some injuries early in the season as well.

"So to be 3-2 is pretty pleasing but the next game against North is pretty critical."

Roos confirmed the fitness of defender Tadhg Kennelly would be assessed following a training session at the SCG.

The Irish star was a late withdrawal from last week's team with a hamstring complaint and Roos was still mulling over who would make way for Kennelly if the flying defender was passed fit.

And in another sign that Roos is willing to give youth a chance – after playing youngsters Nick Smith, Kieren Jack, Ed Barlow and Jarred Moore this season – White will debut against the Kangaroos.

The tall, powerfully built 20-year-old is expected to share some of the rucking duties with Darren Jolly as Lewis Roberts-Thomson shifts to his preferred centre half-back role.

"It's exciting to have another young guy playing a first game. It's a good effort," Roos said of White.

"He can play in the ruck and also in the forward line, obviously without Hally (Barry Hall) this week. Jesse has a big body too."

The move to bring Roberts-Thomson into the Swans' defensive six is also to counter the tall North forwards.

"North are playing good footy," Roos said. "They probably kick the ball a little longer than us. I remember last year they scored some goals from well outside the 50.

"They [North] blew us away early in the contest last year so we're going to be at our best. And that's really the goal, to play as well as we did for three-and-a-half quarters last week [against Geelong].

"They guys were disappointed the way they finished the last five or six minutes of the game, but equally we were very competitive and if we play that way, we'll give ourselves a chance to win."

Roos added that he hoped the Swans' scoring accuracy would improve this week after a scratchy display last week in front of goals, particularly in the first quarter.

"And last year, the Kangaroos really put on some scoreboard pressure early," he added. "So we need to really focus because we played really well early against Geelong but didn't apply any scoreboard pressure."

Former Cat Henry Playfair, midfielder Nic Fosdike and ruckman Peter Everitt are expected to play this weekend in the reserves at Manuka Oval, Canberra.

Roos added that the leadership group may meet with Barry Hall next week to discuss his suspension.