Carlton coach Brett Ratten is considering throwing key position player Jarrad Waite straight into their next AFL match against St Kilda without a weekend hit-out in the reserves.

The Blues have the bye this weekend and Ratten has decided against risking Waite's delicate progress from a hip injury in the second-tier VFL.

Instead Ratten may launch Waite, who hasn't played in seven weeks, into the last home-and-away match of the year against the Saints to test his finals mettle.

"He'll probably go close to playing against St Kilda," Ratten said on Thursday.

"We're pretty confident that he'll get there (for the finals).

"But if something changes with running today or tomorrow or something with his rehab, then we'll be pushed behind the eight-ball.

"Like anything, if there's complications it could all fall over at this pointy end of the season."

Waite, who can play at either end of the ground, looms as vital for the Blues to have any hope of launching a serious premiership tilt.

Elsewhere the Blues are building good depth for their finals campaign as players return from injury.

Defender Jordan Russell, midfielders Kane Lucas and Brock McLean, ruckman Shaun Hampson and Irish forward Setanta o'hAilpin (o'hAilpin) are all knocking on the selection door for finals.

Ratten said he would be an interested observer at VFL affiliates Northern Bullants' match this weekend.

"I'll be just making sure those players who are getting very close get another hitout and we can see who is going to be in our best 22 to play in our first final," Ratten said.

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