Star midfielder Shaun Higgins is keen to stay at North Melbourne

Shaun Higgins can see a bright future at North Melbourne, and is backing the likes of Zuurhar, Davies-Uniacke, Larkey, Simpkin and Thomas to lead the club forward. But where does he see his own future?

Shaun Higgins wants to stay at North Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

Shaun Higgins says his future is at North Melbourne, adamant the club’s new breed of talent has “special” capabilities.

The Kangaroos All Australian flanker believes interim coach Rhyce Shaw will be a senior coach one day - if not next year at the Roos.

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Shaw’s Roos travel to the Gold Coast to take on the Suns on Saturday, aware they are only two games out of eighth spot.

The Roos are in limbo with their list management strategies, asking players like Todd Goldstein for several more weeks before they commence contract talks.

But Higgins told the Herald Sun at 31, he was keen to stay after crossing from the Bulldogs five years ago.

Asked if he wanted to stay if it was his decision, he replied: “Yes. All I can do is turn up and play and continue to improve and hopefully continue to focus on the team getting some wins.

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“It starts with the senior players through the week and all the senior guys carried themselves well last week. The young guys are great but we need to show them the way.”

The Roos showcased their kids against Richmond last week, as Cam Zuurhar, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Nick Larkey, Jy Simpkin and Tarryn Thomas all fired.

Higgins believes Tasmanian academy product Thomas could be anything after combining two huge contested marks and his silky skills against the Tigers.

“We knew he was going to be anything. We got exposed to him for a couple of years and having done match practice with him honestly he would have started Round 1 a few years ago if he was on our list. You never know how quickly it can translate into performance but the start to the year has been pretty special.”

Shaun Higgins wants to stay at North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

Goldstein has attracted rival interest but those clubs might need to hand him offers over $600,000 given his current form.

Former North Melbourne players Brady Rawlings and Peter Bell are likely to be sounded out by the Roos as part of a comprehensive review of their football department.

The Roos are working to establish the criteria for their senior coaching search as they establish a coaching sub committee.

But as the club assesses the needs of its football department it will also cast the net wide about elite staff across the AFL community.

Rawlings is the experienced list manager at West Coast after playing 245 games with the Kangaroos.

Fremantle football boss Bell won two premierships and played 123 of his 286 AFL games with the Roos.

Both would be extremely hard to drag out of their clubs but the interest shows the Roos are keen to get some North Melbourne flavour back into the club.