CARLTON champion Chris Judd could make his long-awaited return from a hamstring strain in next Saturday's clash against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
The two-time Brownlow medallist hasn't played since he suffered the injury just six minutes into his first game of the season – the Blues' round five win over the Western Bulldogs.
Judd was expected to miss five weeks, but has fallen a week behind schedule.
However, the 30-year-old is edging closer to a return and has hit top pace at training.
"I'm getting pretty close," Judd told Fairfax Media.
"I've sprinted flat out now, and so next week I’ll join in and do full training and then it’ll just be a call on fitness whether or not I’m picked for that week or if it’s felt I need another week of full training before taking the field."
Judd missed the opening four rounds after battling an Achilles problem and admitted 2014 has been his most frustrating season yet.
"Yes, it would be. I've had a pretty fortunate career with injury, so I haven’t missed a lot of footy," he said.
"It's the most games I’ve missed and it's probably the lowest on the ladder the team's been since I've been at the club.
"So it's been a challenging year so far. The last month the group played better and obviously I'm just looking at to get back out there myself."
The Blues sit 14th on the ladder with a 3-5 record ahead of Sunday's clash against Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.
