Mick Malthouse is "extremely hopeful" Matthew Kreuzer will be fit to play in Saturday night's semi-final clash with the Sydney Swans as the ruckman battles a calf injury.  

Kreuzer wasn't spotted when Carlton hit the track on Wednesday morning, but Malthouse said the 24-year-old had trained in "some capacity" as his workload was managed through the week. 

The ruckman suffered the injury to his right calf in the first quarter of Sunday's comeback win over Richmond, and although his day appeared over, he played out the game. 

Malthouse was optimistic Kreuzer would face the Swans at ANZ Stadium. 

"I'm extremely hopeful," the Carlton coach said.

"I'm not positive about anyone really because that's the nature of the game as we saw with Brock McLean last week (a late withdrawal against the Tigers).

"I'll be disappointed if he [Kreuzer] doesn't play, put it that way."

Shaun Hampson is fit and available for selection if Kreuzer is not passed fit, but having not played senior football since round seven, Malthouse said the ruckman was a "very distant option". 

McLean participated in training on Wednesday but kicked only on his left foot. 

Malthouse was confident the important midfielder's quad injury would not force him to miss another game, but he also forecast a cautious approach. 

"There are certain injuries I think that you can juice up, and that's a fact of life that a lot of players at this end of the season have the occasional jab in the ankle, in the hand, in the knee, or whatever the case is," Malthouse said. 

"When it gets down to muscles, [it's] different altogether. The risk taking on muscle [injuries]… you've got to be so careful. 

"You've just got to be able to put up with pain."

Malthouse expects the Swans to pick champion Adam Goodes for a return from his knee injury, and said the Blues were undaunted by meeting the reigning premiers on their home turf. 

The Blues have won four of five interstate encounters this season.

"Having played last week on that arena [the MCG], which is the greatest arena in Australia before 90,000 people, if you can stand up there, then I believe you can stand up anywhere," Malthouse said. 

"Because that's the test, the big stage. And travelling away, in all my times of coaching sides that travel, there seems to be an added buzz of a collective wanting to work together. 

"Being on the road is not a daunting matter whatsoever, it is almost the opposite."