CARLTON coach Denis Pagan is wary of underestimating an injury-depleted St Kilda outfit ahead of Friday night's AFL clash at Telstra Dome.

The Saints are missing a host of key players, including defenders Max Hudghton, Matt Maguire and Sam Fisher and midfielder Lenny Hayes, but Pagan said there was still a lot of talent in the side.

"You just never know who's going to come in and do really well," Pagan said.

"You just go with who you've got and I'm sure St Kilda would think like that."

Despite Pagan playing it down, St Kilda's medical woes have presented the Blues with an opportunity to end a series of recent thrashings against the Saints.

The Blues have lost their past seven matches to St Kilda, including the past four by a combined 371 points, an average margin of more than 93 points.

Carlton's Simon Wiggins pulled up from last week's loss to Brisbane with hamstring tightness and will not be considered for selection, according to a club spokesman.

But in better news, Pagan said former skipper Anthony Koutoufides' recovery from a finger injury was a week ahead of schedule.

Koutoufides will visit the doctors and should he receive the green light, may be available next week.

"He's going really well," Pagan said.

"He would have loved to have played this week but it's very hard for him without getting the all-clear."

Koutoufides, who wore a protective glove on his right hand to protect a ruptured finger tendon, trained with the main group for most of the session, but skipped some of the more physical drills and marked one-handed.

Pagan said youngster Mark Murphy could play in defence against the Saints, in a bid to ease the pressure on him given the season-ending neck injury to gun midfielder Nick Stevens.

"We may start him half back flank or something like that may help him cope with what's going to confront him this week," Pagan said.

"He's been an outstanding player the whole way through and it's just part of his development and I'm sure he'll come through with flying colours."

Stevens will have his injured neck operated on on Thursday, Pagan said.