Carlton might give captain Chris Judd another week off later in the AFL season as they continue to manage player workloads.

But ruckman Matthew Kreuzer will definitely play on Monday night against St Kilda, despite his planned break against Greater Western Sydney being called off when Robbie Warnock suffered a hamstring injury.

The Blues will regain Judd, Jarrad Waite and Ed Curnow for the Saints game, with defender Chris Yarran in doubt as he recovers from a toe injury.

All four missed last Sunday’s win over newcomers the Giants.

While Blues coach Brett Ratten said the Carlton coaching staff was “amused” at the level of interest in Judd missing a game because of soreness, he also stressed the need to look after the star midfielder.

Judd will come off a 17-day break when the Blues play St Kilda.

“The (break) has done him the world of good,” Ratten said.

“I suppose the way he plays the game and the way the opposition attack him, they put a fair bit of time and effort into him.

“If you look at the physicality ratings he has to endure through games, they would be fairly high.”

Carlton are keen to follow the example that Geelong set last season on the way to their premiership.

“The Geelong model from last year, the ideal scenario would be if we could get all the players at 20 games,” Ratten said.

“But as we know, the game itself and the four points that are at stake all the time … you don’t get to do that.”

Ratten said the Blues would wait and see later in the season when asked if Judd would have another break ahead of the finals.

“If the opportunity was there and depending on how he felt – we might have a look at him,” Ratten said.

“Marc Murphy, he was a bit sore too during the week and got himself up to play.”

The Blues continue to keep a close eye on Kreuzer.

But Ratten said he was needed against the Saints as Carlton aim to improve on their clearance work.

Warnock’s hamstring injury meant they could not rest Kreuzer against the Giants.