Blues and Tigers to be boosted by injury returns for Round 1

Carlton is set to be boosted by the availability of a host of key players for its season-opening assignment against Richmond.

Levi Casboult (knee) is expected to prove his fitness in the coming days, while his key forward counterpart Harry McKay is considered almost certain to shake off another ankle tweak.

Veteran goalsneak Eddie Betts (calf), who kicked two goals in a VFL practice match against St Kilda last weekend, is also eligible for selection for Thursday night’s blockbuster at the MCG.

But fellow attacker Mitch McGovern, while yet to be ruled out, is unlikely to feature as he struggles to shake a hamstring problem.

At the other end of the ground, Jacob Weitering failed to finish the AAMI Community Series game against St Kilda with a corked hip, but the Blues are confident he will recover for Richmond.

Promising ruckman Tom De Koning has been making better-than-expected progress on a low level stress reaction in his back, but is still set to miss the opening couple of rounds.

Richmond will welcome Tom Lynch (toe) back and are optimistic Dion Prestia (hamstring) can get to the start line to face the Blues.

Important defender Bachar Houli will miss with miss with a calf injury, while Ivan Soldo (knee) is out long-term.