The Hoppers’ veteran has played just six games in the past two years and missed the entire 2016 season due to a knee injury, but is on track to line up in round one.

Miles is joined in the leadership group by vice-captain Lachlan Taylor-Nugent and deputy vice-captains Rory Feltwell and George Godde.

North Albury co-coaches Clinton Gilson and Daniel Leslie both agreed Miles was the best man for the job.

“He’s a natural leader,” Gilson said.

“He’s been fantastic since he’s been back at training.

“We’re hoping he’ll be available for round one.

“He’ll be like another recruit for us.

“Dom Brew has gone to Werribee, but we think David will be a very good replacement for him through the middle of the ground.”

Feltwell and Godde filled the captaincy role in Miles’ absence last season and will still be heavily involved as leaders, along with Taylor-Nugent.

“Lachie (Taylor-Nugent) has stepped up as vice-captain this season and has been another one leading the way at training,” Gilson said.

“It’s a natural progression for him and his leadership.

“Daniel and I didn’t want too big of a leadership group, we’ve just got the four there, which is what we think has worked in the past for us.”

The Hoppers were put to the test with a gruelling training camp at Mitta on Saturday as the club ramped up its pre-season.

“We got 26, 27 kilometres under their belts and trained them for about six hours,” Gilson said.

“We always used to do the camps when I coached up at Mitta, but we all hadn’t done a camp for about six years.

“We took them out of their comfort zone and away from the environment they’re used to at Bunton Park.

“I don’t think many of them had been up there before, but it was a good change of scenery for them all.”

North Albury has an intra-club match on February 24 at Jindera, followed by road trips to Myrtleford and Corowa-Rutherlgen on March 4 and 11, before its final pre-season hit-out against Essendon District League outfit Aberfeldie at Howlong on March 18.