CARLTON star Chris Judd is not in doubt for Sunday's clash against Adelaide despite calling in sick for the Blues' main training session on Thursday.

Brett Ratten assured reporters after the session that the captain would play despite his notable absence from the track.
 
"He's just got a little bit of a cold, so we just kept him away," Ratten said from Visy Park.

"It's been going around a bit, but he's fine - he'll be right to play.

"He's got a bit of a sniffle and we'll let him get over it. He's done a fair bit of work, so we're not too concerned.

"He's done it before (missed training) … probably every player on our list has done it. Even the coach has done it once, three years ago.

"Juddy is human … it's good, its official, it's on record."

Important defender Chris Yarran will be named in the team after three weeks out with a toe injury, but key forward Jarrad Waite is in some doubt with a hip injury.

Ratten will be looking for a strong rebound after his side was widely criticised for its efforts in Monday's loss to St Kilda.

The Blues' two defeats this season have given rise to the theory that his team lacks the physical edge required to challenge in September, but the coach wouldn't be drawn on the idea.

"We just wait and cop what we deserve because we lost the game, so we open ourselves up to those criticisms," he said.

"When you don't win games of football you're a free target. We need to apply ourselves a bit better just through tinkering with a couple of little things.

"We think we've adjusted well."

Ratten admitted his onballers needed to do a better job of capitalising on the good work of Carlton's ruckmen, especially given the Crows' dominance in clearances and contested possession this season.

After a quiet game against the Saints, Bryce Gibbs will have the opportunity to help out at the stoppages with Ratten unapologetically set to use the former No.1 draft pick both in defence and on the ball.

"He's our x-factor with how we use him," he said.

"Sometimes it's more what the team hasn't got [that dictates] where we play Bryce Gibbs and that's sometimes unfair on him. It doesn't allow him to get settled, but it's about the team.

"I think even if you asked Chris Judd he'd say that he plays two or three positions on a day. Most players now play at least two positions, so you can't just say 'You're a midfielder' … it's not just 'go and play this role and that's it for the day'."

Injured onballer Andrew Carrazzo has resumed running after suffering a fractured shoulder blade in round four and will be seeking his surgeon's approval to resume contact work in two to three weeks.