CARLTON'S hopes of avoiding an 0-3 start to the season have been dealt a big blow with emerging forward Troy Menzel ruled out for Saturday's clash against Essendon at the MCG.

Menzel, 20, injured his calf in last Friday night's 69-point thumping at the hands of West Coast, with the youngster to join defender Simon White (knee) on the sidelines.

However, star midfielder Chris Judd, who suffered a knock to his shoulder in the game against the Eagles, has been cleared to play.

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Blues football manager Andrew McKay confirmed Judd had been for scans but dismissed suggestions the dual Brownlow medallist would miss any games.

McKay said Kristian Jaksch (ribs) and Rob Warnock (shoulder) would face fitness tests ahead of Saturday's game.

Young midfielder Patrick Cripps, who was a late withdrawal before the Eagles game because of a back complaint, is also listed as requiring a test.

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"Rob Warnock's had a troublesome shoulder. He got a knock against Collingwood at the NAB Challenge game (in Bendigo on March 15)," McKay said. "It's taken a little bit longer to recover than what we would have liked, but he'll be a test and I'm hoping he'll get up to play."

The news is positive for fellow ruckman Matthew Kreuzer who is getting closer to a return after missing more than a year of football with a fracture in his foot. Kreuzer, 25, has not played for the Blues since round 1, 2014.

"Kruezer has started running and he'll start training properly next week and then (have) a couple of weeks at training before playing games," McKay said.

"We'll play him in the Northern Blues (side) first to get some match fitness and then look for him to play senior footy.

"Senior footy is still four to five weeks away but Northern Blues games will be in the next few weeks."