Carlton are set to be without defender Mitch McGovern for up to three weeks due to a fresh hamstring strain.
The Blues confirmed at Thursday's selection that McGovern had sustained a low-grade hamstring strain which will keep him off the field for the coming weeks in what is the latest hindrance to Michael Voss' finals hopes.
The Princes Park club are already without star midfielder Sam Walsh for this week and potentially next with his own hamstring issue, while fellow onballer Adam Cerra is also facing up to three weeks on the sidelines with a similar injury.
The trio of ailments come at a crucial juncture in Carlton's season, with Voss having managed to lift the Victorian powerhouse from the bottom four and into the top eight thanks to a six-game winning streak.
Carlton sit one win above ninth spot on the ladder ahead of their final four matches, a period that will commence on Sunday against another top-eight-placed club in St Kilda.
The Blues are scheduled to face the Demons, Suns and Giants to conclude their home and away campaign, with their finals prospects potentially still on the line come the final round of the season.
Carlton will be confident all of McGovern, Walsh and Cerra will be fit in time for their Round 24 bout with GWS while hoping they won't require a result in that match to book themselves a place in the September action - a scenario that ended in heartbreak for them last year against Collingwood.
The Blues have called on five inclusions to their squad to face the Saints this weekend, with all of Jaxon Binns, Ed Curnow, Sam Durdin, Zac Fisher and Josh Honey named on the extended bench, which will be cut to four at 5:00pm (AEST) on Friday.
Midfielder Paddy Dow has been confirmed as a starter in the match to replace Cerra after being the sub in last week's win over Collingwood, while Matt Cottrell and Jesse Motlop round out the other spots on Voss' extended interchange.
The clash between the Blues and Saints will commence at 3:20pm on Sunday at Docklands.
