Chris Judd will put his hand up to play Hawthorn next Friday night after a successful return from a hamstring injury in the VFL on Saturday.
Judd played about 70 per cent game time in the Northern Blues' tight win over Sandringham at Visy Park.
The two-time Brownlow medallist said he pulled-up well and expects to play just his second game for the year after his ill-fated six minutes against the Western Bulldogs in round five.
"Body's good. So I've pulled up well and it's just good to have a run, blow the cobwebs out and get back into it," Judd said post-match at Visy Park.
"(To play next week) is the aim, yeah. So I'll be available now and we'll go from there."
Judd lasted only six minutes after coming on as the substitute in the win over the Bulldogs before pinging his hamstring.
But after nearly seven weeks' rehabilitation he said there were no nerves before his long-awaited comeback.
"Not really, it's just exciting to have a kick of the footy. I haven't played much footy this year so it was just to have a run and get back out there," he said.
Judd started on the bench but was soon in the fray.
He had six disposals in the first quarter, winning his trademark contested ball at the stoppages and finding team-mates in space.
The former Carlton skipper played a key hand in the Northern Blues' third goal, marking on the lead in the pocket and kicking long to the top of the goalsquare for a crumbed major.
The large crowd cheered his every disposal – he had 16 to three-quarter time - with the biggest roar of the day coming as he burst free from a stoppage in the third quarter, avoided two would-be tacklers and drilled a pass to a teammate for another goal.
Judd said he was able to hit top pace and had no concerns about his hamstring.
The former skipper's return next week would be a huge boost for Carlton, which nearly pulled-off a remarkable upset of Geelong on Friday night.
Judd said it was tough to watch, but he was proud of the Blues' efforts.
"They played pretty bloody well. They just couldn't quite finish it off," he said.
"So it was mixed emotions watching it, but for the most part I'm pretty proud of their efforts."
