CARLTON midfielder Marc Murphy remains on track to play in the first round of the premiership season as he makes good progress from post-Christmas hip surgery.

Murphy had been building a strong fitness base before niggling groin pain became increasingly severe towards the end of November.

Amid concerns the 22-year-old was showing the early signs of osteitis pubis, club medical staff scaled back his workload dramatically.

However, continued pain in his return to training this year pointed to partially torn hip ligaments and not the debilitating groin condition.

Murphy, who is already back running on a treadmill, said the required surgery was a success and that he should be clear to play against Richmond, albeit in a slightly different role than he's used to.

"At the start of the season, at least, I think I'll be used in more short, sharp bursts and once my fitness is back around the mark I'm sure it will be back to normal," Murphy told afl.com.au.

"I'll be managed a little bit more at the start of the season than I have been in the past. I'll probably get rotated a bit more than I usually would to keep me a bit fresher rather than staying out on the ground for extended periods.

"I probably won't be as fit as I was at the start of last season, but I'm sure I'll get it back a few games in."

Murphy is aiming to see limited action as early as the third week of the NAB Cup competition and has kept a positive mindset despite his first major interruption to a pre-season campaign.

"This is my fifth season now so I've had four solid years of conditioning and hopefully that base will help me get back into it pretty quickly," he said.

"The last three or four years I've played three or four NAB Cup games and that won't be the case this year, but that should allow me to hit my peak later and maintain that into what hopefully will be some finals footy."

Murphy's situation, when coupled with Chris Judd's absence through suspension for the first three rounds, has the Blues' engine room appear a tad short-handed.

But the young gun is certain there will be plenty of teammates willing to pitch in.

"We will look a bit different through the middle without Juddy there, but we've got a lot of guys who can go through there and we've added Brock McLean as well," he said.

"Compared to previous years I think we're way ahead of where we have been as a group. Most of the guys look to be in really good shape and there have been plenty of personal bests, whether it be running around the park or in the gym.

"I'm pretty confident that we can all pick up any slack and get off to a good start."