[Boatanchors] Embarrassing Rookie Question

[Joe Connor via Boatanchors]

I just picked up a beat-up NC-200 today as my latest project. I don't have the speaker, so is it OK if I work on this radio with headphones, no speaker, and the 6V6s removed?
Once I get this set working well, I plan to fabricate a new speaker by taking a traditional speaker in a metal box, installing a push-pull output transformer in the box, and making a cable ending in a five-prong plug. I recently did that with a Patterson PR-12 and it worked out very nicely. I doubt that I'll get lucky enough to find the proper National speaker at any hamfests this year. 
As always, thank you for your help.
                         Joe Connor