Carlton's decision to risk Jarrad Waite on the weekend backfired, with the key forward out of AFL action for up to a month.

Waite might need surgery after scans on Monday showed he has cartilage damage in his hip.

He was subbed off in the second quarter of Sunday's 27-point loss to the Western Bulldogs and the club said post-match that it was groin tightness.

Speaking before undergoing the scans on Monday, Waite had no regrets about trying to play with his latest injury.

One of Carlton's most important players had also been hopeful about being available for Saturday's blockbuster against arch-rivals Collingwood.

"These things happen in football, you can't predict what's going to happen," Waite said.

Coach Brett Ratten had also said immediately after Sunday's match that he was comfortable with the decision to play Waite.

"We got the tick from the medicos and everyone that he was right," Ratten said.

"I suppose they're the risks you take sometimes going into games."

Waite will visit a specialist on Tuesday to see if needs an operation on his hip.

Sunday was only his second game back after missing three matches with a hamstring injury.

Ratten said Carlton were struggling to find big men to bring into the side with Shaun Hampson, Luke Mitchell and Setanta O'hAilpin unavailable through injury.

"It (losing Waite) is a big blow," Ratten told FoxSports' On The Couch program on Monday.

"(Key defender Michael) Jamison is out as well. We don't have a lot of options at the moment.

"We'll have to come up with something. It's going to test the team how we can adapt really quickly."

In more bad news, midfielder Andrew Carrazzo will also miss the Collingwood clash.

He was a late withdrawal from the Bulldogs match because of a calf muscle injury.

While the Magpies regained top spot with a 117-point demolition of North Melbourne, Carlton dropped from third to fourth following their loss to the Bulldogs.

Saturday will be a major credibility test for the improving Blues, who lost to Collingwood in round three by 28 points.

They have a four-game losing streak against the reigning premiers.

All public ticketing and AFL members reserved seating is sold out for Saturday's clash at the MCG.

Carlton and Collingwood attracted their best crowd of 88,181 in round three earlier this year, the 12th time they had enjoyed attendance above 80,000.

The AFL and Melbourne Cricket Club are advising fans to allow plenty of time to get into the ground and take public transport if possible.

Only club members who hold a reserved seat or standing room ticket can attend.

AFL members must also have a reserved seat or standing room ticket to gain admittance, with some standing room positions to be sold later this week.

If Saturday's match goes above 80,000, it will be the first time in the league's history that five games in one season have drawn that many fans.

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