Carlton are likely to be without midfielder Matt Kennedy for the next week at least after the Blues onballer suffered a "medial" knee injury during his side's win over Richmond on Sunday.
Kennedy hurt his knee partaking in a ruck contest against Tiger Jacob Koschitzke in the final quarter, with the former Giant coming off second best and holding his right knee on the ground.
The 27-year-old was able to get to his feet before being aided off the field and into the rooms, with Kennedy taking no further part in the win.
Speaking after the 61-point victory, coach Michael Voss confirmed it was a medial knee concern for Kennedy, however the club was yet to know the full extent of the setback.
Kennedy suffered an MCL injury in Round 17 last year against Fremantle and did not return until Carlton's semi-final game in mid-September.
"We don't know the extent of that just yet,"ย Voss said.
"It'll definitely be a medial, we just don't know the significance of it."
Onballer Adam Cerra was subbed out of the game for George Hewett in a pre-planned manoeuvre from the Blues as the former made his return from a hamstring injury.
The Blues lost ruckman Tom De Koning as a late out for Sunday's outing at the MCG due to soreness carried on from the club's Round 15 win over Geelong.
Voss confirmed De Koning is in line to play this week against GWS, with the move to manage their in-form tall set to freshen De Koning up for the run home while also handing Marc Pittonet a deserved spot back in the senior side.
"The bigger picture is that we're probably asking him to play big minutes, certainly in the last month," Voss added.
"He was just too sore. We got to [Saturday] and he was just still really sore from last week's game, so we took a conservative approach. We had a ruckman who could come in and play his aggressive best.
"I thought 'Pitto' really stuck at his guns for most of the game and in the second half was able to have a say on what happened. He deserved (the return) as well. He's a pretty handy next man in.
"We'll get Tom back next week. To be able to have the week off and probably rest some bruises is not a bad thing."
The Blues' small forward ranks are continuing to create "good internal drive" at selection for Voss, with quartet Orazio Fantasia, Lachie Fogarty, Alex Cincotta and Zac Williams combining for half of the club's goals against Richmond.
With Jack Martin (calf), David Cuningham and Jesse Motlop also on standby as early as next week, Voss said the competition for spots in his front half has been a major boost.
"Yeah, we hope so," the Blues coach said of the selection fight.
"Building to the back-half of this year and having players return, that builds momentum when you've got players in form and you've got guys trying to vy for that position as well.
"It creates some really good internal drive. I've spoken about it before, we give status to those roles. Today was one of those days where it wasn't so much the talls marking it but the smalls were able to have some impact."
Small forward Corey Durdin suffered a suspected shoulder injury in the VFL on Sunday and could be facing further time on the sidelines, while wingman Matt Cottrell is in line to return to the field as early as this week as he nears the end of his rehabilitation from a footy injury.
The Blues to head to Engie Stadium on Saturday to face GWS in Round 17.
