Carlton will enter Saturday's high-stakes AFL clash with Richmond without skipper Chris Judd, after the Blues conceded he had not fully recovered from concussion.

The Blues confirmed the major injury blow, hours after the star midfielder failed to join the main group for Friday's final training session.

Coach Brett Ratten said Judd was still suffering the after-effects of a heavy clash of heads with Essendon skipper Matthew Lloyd last Sunday.

"The Carlton doctor has monitored Chris's progress this week and while he has continued to improve he has not recovered sufficiently to play in tomorrow's game," Ratten said.

"Medical tests conducted during last week's game, following the heavy collision in the first quarter, indicated Chris was fit to continue during the match and the medical team regularly monitored him throughout the game.

"Unfortunately his symptoms deteriorated after the game."

He was replaced in the Blues' 22 by youngster Darren Pfeiffer.

Midfielder Andrew Carrazzo (concussion) and spearhead Brendan Fevola (back soreness) have also been under an injury cloud.

But both trained with the main group and appear certain to play against the Tigers.

Richmond assistant coach David King labelled it a "massive" game for his club, with both sides sitting just outside the top eight and a huge crowd expected as the Tigers celebrate their VFL/AFL centenary this weekend.

"I remember (former North Melbourne coach) Denis Pagan used to say these games were worth 10 regular home and away games and I think that that's quite true," King said.

"When you think of the pressure and stakes contest to contest in front of such a massive audience, you really do find out about a lot of players in those circumstances.

"I think we'll learn a lot about our players tomorrow, not all of it will be positive, we know that, but I think it's going to be a great experience for them, we're hoping we can do it it's due deserts."

While the injury news was bad for the Blues, the Tigers have welcomed back fullback Will Thursfield and captain Kane Johnson.

Thursfield is expected to be given the vital job on Carlton full-forward Brendan Fevola, who has kicked 15 goals in the past fortnight.

"You won't be able to stop him full stop, because he's just too good a player to do that," King said.

"What you try to do is hope to minimise the damage ... and make sure the supply's not of great quality, I think that's our biggest chance there."

Richmond star forward Matthew Richardson has also been under an injury cloud, with a large bruise on his hamstring, but King said it was unlikely to stop him continuing his free-wheeling role around the ground.

"He's an absolute workhorse, there's no doubt that he's been playing under a bit of duress, you only have to look at the back of his leg to see that," King said.

"But he's an amazing competitor Richo, once he gets out there, nothing gets in the way of him getting his hands on that footy.

"We need him at his best again, we always look to Richo when we're looking to win games and this will be no exception."

Carlton assistant coach Gavin Crosisca said the Blues needed to lift their aggression, after last round's high-scoring loss to Essendon.

"We need to bring a decent aggressive game to the table and it's one area we really let ourselves down last week - the back six on top of everyone else," he said.

"We really didn't play an accountable and physical type of game especially in the first quarter where we were smashed."

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