Carlton are poised to recall forward Setanta O'hAilpin for Saturday night's big AFL clash with Essendon.

The Irishman, who has been out for a month nursing a hand injury, is likely to line up as the Blues try to overcome a lack of height and firepower.

Blues' coach Brett Ratten signalled the move on Wednesday after highlighting Carlton's weakness.

"It's all in one area that we've lost players and that's with our height," Ratten said.

Full-back Michael Jamison, Shaun Hampson, Jarrad Waite and Simon White are all missing, with Waite pencilled in for a return next week and Jamison and Hampson the week after.

"O'hAilpin will be back this week," Ratten said. "Whether we pick him at senior level or reserve level ... he's missed about four or five weeks so that would be a risk.

"But he's one who plays pretty well fresh so that would be taken into consideration.

"Setanta might add something different to our forward line if we brought him back in and he might throw something different at the Bombers' back line."

Ratten also said the side needs to get more from Matthew Kreuzer as a forward but admits it is partly the team's fault.

"We haven't kicked the ball to him that well," Ratten said. "If you look in his six games, he's only been the target around seven times which is extremely low considering that someone like (in-form Collingwood spearhead) Travis Cloke goes at 14, 15, 16 a game.

"We haven't kicked the ball to Matthew and given him the opportunity he deserves to develop as a forward as well."

Ratten said the problem is a combination of Kreuzer's positioning on the ground and the delivery of the ball to him.

He said he is expecting a different sort of encounter against long-time rivals Essendon on Saturday night after their heart-stopping round-four draw.

"I think they've changed their style a fair bit," Ratten said. "Their long kicks have gone down dramatically, their handballs have gone up.

"They're really playing ... a bit like last year. That run-and-carry with their hands and that kamikaze-type play from behind centre has come back into their game.

"They've got some real good run in their game. The other night, they gave Adelaide a huge lead and reeled them in and won the game.

"I'd like to get that break and see if we can hang on," he said.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP