CARLTON coach Brett Ratten faces a tough selection decision with Michael Jamison pressing for a return against Hawthorn on Friday night.

Jamison, 25, has missed seven games since suffering meniscus damage in his left knee in round 14 and is running out of time to regain match fitness ahead of the Blues' finals campaign.

"I watched him train today and he did everything according to plan … it just depends how he pulls up," Ratten said from Visy Park on Tuesday.

"I suppose it's a risk we'll have to take. Are we going to take it? Do we want to take it? I think that will be up to the match committee tomorrow.

"He usually comes to hand pretty quickly. With the sub rule can we strategically do it? I suppose then you've got an issue if someone else gets an injury. We'll have to weigh up the pros and cons.

"I'd love to get him back in ASAP. It's a big game and we want to get him ready for finals. Do we take the risk and put him in now? We'll have to wait and see."

Key forward Jarrad Waite, who had hip surgery shortly after round 16, pulled up sore from a weekend training session and is unlikely to play at any level this weekend.

In better news for Carlton, Shaun Hampson will play for the Northern Bullants in the VFL after recovering from knee meniscus damage suffered in round 13.

The ruckman is one of several players who will be pushing to return to the team with just two games and a bye remaining before the Blues enter the finals.   

"Jordan Russell played pretty well [in the VFL] on the weekend," Ratten said.

"Kane Lucas was in the same boat and Brock McLean went back and had 30-odd possessions, which is brilliant from his point of view, Paul Bower had the ball a fair bit and Setanta O'hAilpin kicked 2.7 I think, so he's getting shot at goal."

Bret Thornton has been cleared of any serious damage after receiving a knock to the head in the 30-point win against Fremantle.

Carlton is locked in a battle with West Coast, which has a game in hand on the Blues, for fourth spot on the ladder, but Ratten is more intent on sharpening his team up for the finals than looking over his shoulder.

"We can't control that. We're just going to keep trying to win and if it falls our way [great], but if it doesn't we'll deal with that," he said.

"We can just really concentrate on our form. Let's get our form right so that when we get the opportunity in finals we make sure that we tick the boxes. We've got two really hard, uncompromising teams going into the finals where we get two chances to rehearse.

"Playing Hawthorn this week then having the bye and playing St Kilda will be great preparation for us hopefully."