CARLTON coach Brett Ratten is still confident midfielder Brock McLean can play a meaningful role in the club’s push to September despite his latest injury setback.

McLean’s last AFL game was against the Eagles in round 10, but since then he has struggled to shrug off a knee injury.

Even though he had a second round of surgery early this week, Ratten is not writing off his prized recruit’s season just yet.

“It’s still alive, he’s just had a day procedure there, so he won’t have too many hiccups with that,” Ratten said on Wednesday.

“He might miss an extra week, but he should play not this week coming but the following week.”

Defender Dennis Armfield has reported lingering neck stiffness from the heavy bump that saw him taken to a Perth hospital for scans last Saturday night and will be assessed at training on Wednesday.

He will be given every opportunity to take part in the highly-anticipated clash against the Magpies at the MCG on Saturday.

“I don’t think much from our group has to be said about the rivalry and what it means to our football club,” Ratten said.

“I suppose that’s gone through history about how the two clubs have played. I think you just have to say the word ‘Collingwood’ [to the group] and it gets the hairs on the back of your neck going. I think our group gets stimulated on these big occasions.

“There’s no bigger [game] than when Collingwood is sitting at the top of the ladder playing great football. It’s an added bonus to see where we’re at.

“They’re in fantastic form. The contribution they get from all their players is probably the best in the competition at the moment. The 22 that they run out and the effort they get from them is the best going [around] in the last month, maybe six weeks.”

In seventh spot on the AFL ladder, the Blues’ own season is still very much alive despite an early scare against West Coast.

Ratten denied there was any ongoing issue with the way his side was starting games, but he did lament the inaccuracy in front of goal that allowed the Eagles to open up a handy lead at Subiaco.

The coach has faced a weekly juggling act to find the best forward mix since the departure of Brendan Fevola and this week will be no different.

Mitch Robinson pressed his claims for a return with a strong performance at VFL level with Setanta O’hAilpin and Brad Fisher also in the mix.

“Setanta played last week at VFL level and played OK. It’s something we’re looking at each week - whether we change that front five,” Ratten said.

“Sometimes our scoring has decreased a fair bit though games.

“Setanta, Brad Fisher - their form in the VFL has been pretty good, pretty solid. I think Fisher has kicked close to 18 goals in five weeks so he’s getting around that three to four goals each week there.”