The Carlton superstar, who has overcome a hamstring strain, is yet to have an official pre-season hitout and was yesterday left out of the Blues' side that will face the Adelaide Crows at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.
But Carlton midfield coach Rob Wiley said Judd would definitely play next week, regardless of whether the Blues were vying for the NAB Cup premiership or conducting a less formal hitout.
The dual Brownlow medallist, who has relinquished the captaincy, has been training beautifully at top speed, and his work during a 40-minute session at Visy Park on Thursday was no exception.
"'Juddy' is training wonderfully well; it's more about management and getting him right," Wiley said after training.
"We expect him to be fine next week and get some match fitness into him … He'll play next week – full stop."
With new coach Mick Malthouse implementing a new game plan, Wiley agreed that "in an ideal world" such an influential player would already have played. But he didn’t see Judd's absence as an issue of concern.
"Not at all. We do a lot of structure work and game style at training, and Chris has been involved in all that. That, plus the fact he's a very smart footballer – he's shown that over many years – so that's certainly not a concern," he said.
"We've got every confidence that Chris picks it up very quickly."
Asked whether Judd was frustrated that he wasn't yet playing, Wiley said "definitely not".
"It's like a new lease of life (for him) not having the responsibility to attend all (leadership) meetings, and his training has certainly showed that," he said.
"He knows that sometimes it's just management, and that the coaching staff know what to do to get Chris up. He's got his mind fully on round one."
Wiley said that the players and coaches had a similar focus on the season-opener against Richmond, but they were still determined to win at every opportunity in the NAB Cup. And there is an extra incentive against the Crows: a win would send Carlton straight into the NAB Cup Grand Final.
"We take every game seriously. (It's) certainly been the thing that Michael (Malthouse) has spoken to the player group (about), that every game we go into we want to win.
"It's good to control your own destiny, and by winning tomorrow night we'd automatically go into the NAB Cup final with our percentage.
Wiley said making the NAB Cup Grand Final would be good for Carlton.
Wiley was mindful that the Blues' path to the decider was laden with obstacles: they face a near full-strength Crows, it's their second road trip in the space of a fortnight, and they will need to negotiate successive six-day breaks during a heatwave. High temperatures have again been forecast in Adelaide.
"There's lots of challenges but it's exactly what we want because for this group to keep improving they've got to be pitted against the best, and Adelaide will certainly (challenge) us in certain areas that we’re looking to improve in," he said.
With Collingwood, Brisbane Lions, North Melbourne and Geelong the other teams in the race for a berth in the NAB Cup Grand Final, Wiley said the Blues have no preference for an opponent if they make it.
However he expressed excitement at the potential for a clash with Malthouse's former club Collingwood.
"We're prepared to take on anyone, but if it was Collingwood, well what a great opportunity again to be challenged against one of the best sides going around for the last few years," he said.
"That's where Carlton don’t want to put any limits on where they’re heading."
