CARLTON ruckman Matthew Kreuzer is on track to make an early appearance in this year's NAB Cup thanks to a strong pre-season campaign.

Kreuzer, 22, managed just 12 games last year as his return from a knee reconstruction was soured by a foot injury that saw him miss both of the Blues' finals matches.

Carlton travels to Adelaide for its NAB Cup opener against Port Adelaide and the Crows on February 26, and Kreuzer is hopeful he will be in the team that runs out onto AAMI Stadium.

"We haven't looked too far ahead, but I'm looking to play some NAB Cup games and go from there," Kreuzer said on Tuesday.

"We had the camp overseas [in October and] I did some training over there. Once I got back from there it was straight into pre-season and I haven't looked back since, so it's been good."

Kreuzer returned to the Blues' line-up against the Brisbane Lions in round 12 last season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in round 13, 2010.
 
He admits he was unable to recapture his best form on his return, but another operation to remove fragments in the knee immediately following the season has allowed him to attack his summer program unhindered.

"Coming off the knee … I was frustrated with not being quite to the fitness that I wanted to be," he said.

"It was frustrating and then having a [foot] injury, it made me even a bit more frustrated, but this pre-season I've just wanted to get through all of it, get fully fit and have a good year this year.

"You do all the rehab and that, but you just don't have the games under your belt. You're not sure how it's going to cope, but with a full pre-season, you're doing everything.

"You're jumping and marking and doing everything so you don't really feel it and you forget about it really."

After finishing fifth last year, Kreuzer said Carlton was intent on finishing inside the top four and going further into the finals.

"Obviously that's our goal and we just want to get into the season and see how we go," he said.

"Every team wants to play at the end of September, but if we improve from last year we're going to be on the right step forward towards that."

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