The VFL's number one ruckman and Big V representative has missed six matches with a broken hand.

Although North Ballarat has had the services of experienced North Melbourne big man David Hale in that time, it has still been undermanned.

Hale has had to share his time between a key forward role and the ruck, leaving teenager Sam Conroy to carry a large part of the workload.

Stephenson goes back into the team with the Selkirk Roosters under pressure to rebound after a shock 13-point loss to Werribee.

He broke the hand in a training mishap on June 16 and had it pinned.

North Ballarat medical staff were initially hopeful he might be back within six weeks, but later advice stretched this out to 10 weeks.

Had the latter come to fruition, Stephenson would not have played again before the finals.

Stephenson had a plaster cast removed more than a week ago and convinced head coach Gerard FitzGerald he was ready to play again after getting through a full training session on Wednesday night.

North Ballarat football manager Marg Richards said Stephenson had gained approval from AFL Victoria to wear a specially fitted guard splint for the rest of the season to protect the damaged area.

FitzGerald has reacted strongly to the loss to Werribee. In a massive overhaul, Stephenson is one of six changes.

Five players have been dropped and Chris Giampaolo is out under the 23rd player rotation policy.