Carlton should regain captain Anthony Koutoufides for next Saturday night's AFL pre-season grand final, but fellow midfielder Nick Stevens remains a doubtful starter.

Coach Denis Pagan said Koutoufides was "a pretty good chance" to return from a knee injury, further bolstering the Blues for the final against West Coast after their 51-point semi-final thumping of the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome.

There should be more word on Monday on Stevens, who must decide between the grand final and best man duties on the same day at his brother's wedding outside Sydney.

When asked about Stevens, Pagan replied: "We haven't even spoken about it."

Carlton youngsters Jarrad Waite and Simon Wiggins could also return for the grand final.

Pagan said making the grand final meant a lot to his young side, which finished second-bottom when he took over in 2003.

"It's amazing how quickly it's happened. I think back two years ago and it was a real nightmare," he said.

"I really mean that. It was all over the place.

"Don't even ever deride the fact that this is a meaningful experience for our blokes. It's going to do them wonders to be able to play in a grand final.

"It's going to be good to see the navy blue jumper run out (for the final) when we've been crushed, we've been through the bleakest period in the club's history.

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