CHARLIE Curnow will return for Carlton's showdown with Hawthorn but coach Michael Voss has cautioned against expecting the spearhead to be the Blues' saviour.

Just one game into the season, pressure has mounted on Carlton following an unfathomable defeat to Richmond after blowing a 41-point lead against the wooden-spoon favourite.

The review that followed was honest and direct, but Voss isn't panicking ahead of Thursday night's clash with the red-hot Hawks at the MCG.

Curnow struggled with knee issues over the summer after being plagued by an ankle injury at the end of last season, leading to major surgery.

"It does help that he's got an extra week under his belt," Voss said of the dual Coleman medallist on Wednesday.

"Possibly could have (played) last week, but I think it definitely would have been pulling the trigger too early. 

"He's well and truly ready.

"He's just really clear and excited about being able to get back out there. He's a performer. 

"We're not in this conversation around that one person is going to make a difference here. 

"What makes a difference is that when we stay connected as an 18-man team (on the field).

"We've spoken a lot about squad mentality, and essentially, that's what gets the job done."

Voss defended the use of dual Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps as a second ruck, insisting the move wasn't anything new.

Cripps ended up taking the second-most ruck contests (14) against Richmond, only behind No.1 big man Tom De Koning.

"I would imagine he would play there still a little bit from time to time," said Voss.

"Maybe the fact that it's 'Crippa', it gets a little bit more attention.

"But I think you'll notice a lot of second rucks having varying size about them."

Voss admitted there was a "fair bit of honesty" in Carlton's review of its 13-point loss.

But he said three times that it didn't matter what he said during his press conference, Carlton will be judged by how it responds from the humiliating result.

After playing finals for the last two seasons, the Blues should be in a window where they can challenge to end the club's 30-year premiership drought.

"You don't have to necessarily tell them certain things, but we also have to be able to be big enough to accept that the standards weren't acceptable," Voss said.

"So we don't miss that, and then we also don't miss the reinforcement or the opportunity to be able to look at what actually worked well."