Carlton coach Josh Fraser has provided a return-to-play timeline for star defender Jacob Weitering.
The 28-uear-old missed Round 13 with a calf injury before the club's bye and will again be absent for the trip to Sydney this weekend.
"He's progressing well. We expect him to train fully today, train next week and be available," Fraser told media on Thursday.
"We want to take a really considered approach with these players to make sure we're setting them up to return in the best form they can.
"I wouldn't call it caution, we're just doing the best thing by the player and the team. Sometimes those circumstances allow a player like Wade Derksen to come in, get exposure and continue to grow his game."
Fraser also maintained that the thinking about the short term has not changed despite four consecutive wins putting Carlton just a game and percentage outside the top 10.
A win over GWS on Saturday would position the Blues well for a genuine push, with West Coast at Marvel Stadium and Richmond at the MCG to follow.
"This might not surprise you, but I haven't looked at the ladder in that sense. We've been pretty consistent around building this for the future, making sure that we're building something sustainable," Fraser added.
"I'm really comfortable that our approach is very much today's training session and GWS coming up. I'm confident that if we continue to have that thought process and application, then the results will take care of themselves to a large degree.
"I don't think we're in a position to think too far ahead: one of the beauties around what we've done in the last month is stay really present to growing our game, doubling down on the things that are working for us, finding ways to do things better.
"We're charged with the responsibility of making sure this club is in a better position at the end of the season than what it is now."
