ALEX Silvagni will return to the action this afternoon for the Northern Blues after overcoming a knee injury.

The second-year Blue burst onto the scene for Carlton early in 2017 on his way to playing seven games, elevated to the Blues' leadership group earlier this year.

The curtain raiser at the UTAS Stadium will provide Silvagni and his teammates with the best chance to add to their preparation for the season proper.

He’ll be joined by 11 other Carlton-listed teammates for the match starting at 4pm.

Those players are Tom De Koning, Jesse Glass-McCasker, Patrick Kerr, Sam Kerridge (today’s captain), Kym Lebois, Matthew Lobbe, Harrison Macreadie, Cillian McDaid, Cameron Polson, Angus Schumacher and Matthew Shaw.

Graphic courtesy of the Northern Blues Football Club.

Silvagni is one of four inclusions, alongside fellow returnee Kane Keppel as well as Carl Adams and Deven Costigan.

Coming out of the VFL squad from last week are Nick Graham (knee soreness) and Cameron O’Shea (AFL selection).

The Northern Blues’ first VFL game of the home-and-away season comes on Saturday, April 7 against Collingwood at Preston City Oval.