TWO OF Carlton's great forward line hopes, Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow, will return from long stints on the sidelines in the VFL this weekend.

But Blues skipper Marc Murphy is still up to three weeks away from returning from the ankle injury he suffered in round 10 against Geelong.

McKay and Curnow were Carlton's second and third selections in last year's NAB AFL Draft, taken in the first round at picks No.10 and No.12 respectively.

McKay is yet to make his senior debut and has been sidelined since he was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his lower back in March, while Curnow played four consecutive senior games after making his debut in round two against the Sydney Swans before his illness hit.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton told reporters on Wednesday morning McKay and Curnow would return this weekend with the Northern Blues either in their senior VFL team or development side.

Bolton praised McKay's attitude during his three-month rehabilitation.

"He's been fantastic, Harry. He had a long-term injury, it was about 12 or 13 weeks, so he's really focused on learning and being a student of the game," Bolton said.

"In fact, he's been as good as any first-year player I've seen in trying to study and understand the game while he's been injured.

"He'll play some footy this week and we think we've got a talent there, but it's going to take some time because he's just been reintroduced to football."

Murphy was still in a moonboot while the Blues trained at Ikon Park on Wednesday.

Bolton was confident the Carlton skipper would not have to manage his ankle for the rest of the season once he resumed, but said the Blues would take a cautious approach with him.

"He's progressing well," Bolton said.

"We're really hopeful in the next few weeks that he can be on top of it, so we won't put Murph at risk."

After enjoying a bye last round, Carlton plays Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium in Saturday's twilight timeslot.

Bolton said former Giants ruckman Andrew Phillips was "a real chance" to return against his old side.

Phillips played this year's opening six rounds before suffering a hamstring injury, but returned in the VFL three weeks ago and quickly found "really good form".

The Blues coach also said first-year forward Jack Silvagni was in the mix to make his debut against the Giants on the back of consecutive four-goal hauls for the Northern Blues.