Carlton are optimistic captain Patrick Cripps will return for their AFL clash with Fremantle, after missing just one match with a hamstring strain.
Cripps has made solid progress since suffering the injury in the round-four loss to Gold Coast.
The star midfielder sat out Sunday's nail-biting three-point win over Port Adelaide, in which the Blues almost let slip a game they at one stage by 50 points.
Cripps being involved on Saturday night at Optus Stadium would provide a huge boost for the Blues against the red-hot Dockers, who are second on the ladder.
"He's got to get through this weekend, so he'll stll be a test," Blues senior assistant Ash Hansen said.
"We're optimistic that with two sessions ahead he gets through those, he'll come under consideration.
"He played out that quarter (against the Suns) so it was a conservative approach and it will be a training based decision.
"We're on a charter (flight to Perth) so there'll be time and space to move around and stretch his legs."
At 4-1, the Blues are enjoying their best start to a season since 2012.
But Carlton are not getting carried away after giving up major leads in three out of their four wins.
"As a coaching group, we want to support the players in understanding the why behind it," Hansen said.
"Our starts have been strong and we're playing the style that we're encouraging them to do and doing it well.
"Then we're holding on late in games, which I know our fans would appreciate.
"It's really encouraging to see the group dig in and get the results we wanted but we're just not playing our style for long enough."
Defenders Mitch McGovern and Oscar McDonald will not be rushed back into the team but could return within the next month.
