Touching the footy is as far off as Tipperary for Carlton's Setanta O'hAilpin at the moment, and the Irishman appears headed for a demotion from the AFL club before Friday night's game against Richmond at the MCG.

With forwards Brendan Fevola and Jarrad Waite sure to return for the important clash, O'hAilpin is almost certain to be dropped after a poor game against Hawthorn last Friday, during which the former hurling star from Cork managed only one kick and was often out of position as he struggled to read the play.

But Blues coach Denis Pagan said the club was keen to continue its Irish experiment with O'hAilpin, who played his only previous AFL game in round seven last year after spending 2004 on the club's rookie list.

"I think Setanta's a confident young man, I think he realises the situation he's in," Pagan said of O'hAilpin, who first played Australian rules in late 2003.

"We wanted to know where he was (in his development).

"We want to get (draftee) Josh Kennedy in as soon as he's match-hardened and conditioned and we thought it was an ideal opportunity to see where Setanta's at.

"He didn't have a good game last week but it wasn't through lack of trying.

"I think it took Jimmy Stynes five years before he grasped Australian football and Tadgh Kennelly three years, and Setanta has only started his third year, so he's under no illusions how tough the assignment he's got."

As the two great Irish success stories of the AFL, Stynes won the 1991 Brownlow Medal with Melbourne and was a champion follower and Kennelly played in Sydney's premiership winning team last year.

O'hAilpin's younger brother Aisake is on Carlton's rookie list.

Fevola will return from suspension to play against Richmond, while Waite is a strong chance of returning after two games out with a quad injury.

Their presence in attack should give Carlton a more settled line-up and allow Pagan to use Lance Whitnall as a permanent key defender, having been forced to use him at both ends in the loss to the Hawks.

Captain Anthony Koutoufides could also be employed in a greater role on the ball against Richmond after he was mainly used across half-forward last week, when hampered by illness.

Carlton trained alongside Melbourne Storm NRL players at MC Labour Park, having had an application to train at the MCG knocked back.

"We're not the home team so they politely said no," Pagan said.

"We'd loved it (today's training session) to be there, but we understand the MCG has been pretty good to us and it isn't our home game, so we're mindful of that."

The loser of Friday night's match will sink to a fourth defeat from five games.

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