Star Blue Harry McKay is set to miss Carlton's King's Birthday Eve clash with Essendon after being ruled out with knee soreness, creating an opening for young ruckman Hudson O'Keeffe to debut.

McKay has played just seven games this year, with the latest concern making the 27-year-old the fifth change for the Blues this week.

Jack Silvagni, Hudson O'Keeffe, Zac Williams, Orazio Fantasia, and Alex Cincotta are all set to be welcomed back into the team this week, while Harry O'Farrell, Lewis Young, Jaxon Binns, and Corey Durdin have all been omitted.

McKay was initially named in the team after completing training early in the week, but was unable to train during the club's main training session on Thursday.

The club monitored his health across the last 36 hours since the teams were released on Thursday evening before making the call to withdraw McKay from the Round 13 match after Carlton's captain's run on Saturday.

It has led to an opening for 20-year-old ruckman O'Keeffe, who was picked up in the 2022 Supplemental Selection Period.

The blossoming 202cm ruck can spend time in the middle or up forward, recording 30 hitouts in a VFL game this season, while also kicking multiple goals on three respective occasions.

Blues bolster ruck stocks with fresh extension
Hudson O'Keeffe of the Carlton Blues (image via Carlton FC)

It's likely Tom De Koning will share the ruck load with O'Keeffe, and be provided with more time in the forward line as the key forward pairing with Charlie Curnow.

McKay will be further assessed late next week to gauge whether the star forward will make his return in Round 14 against the Eagles.

McKay's brother, Ben, has also not been named to take the field this week as he overcomes a foot concern. It means that the McKay twins have still only shared the field once across their careers, which occurred in this exact fixture last year.

The Blues-Bombers clash takes place at the MCG on Sunday night.