CARLTON spearhead Harry McKay remains touch-and-go for the club's round one blockbuster against Richmond, with the Blues set to take a cautious approach to his recovery from a summer of groin injuries.

McKay resumed match simulation duties at training this week, but is unlikely to be risked throughout the club's next two Marsh Community Series outings against Fremantle and Brisbane.

EDDIE ELECTRIFIES Blues touch up Pies in practice match

It would mean Carlton's leading goalkicker from last year would take on the reigning premiers without any pre-season football under his belt, with the Blues adamant they will not force the issue with their star 204cm forward if he is underdone.

"He's pushing for it and he wants to play it," Carlton coach David Teague told AFL.com.au.

"He played some really good football for us last year, but it's not just about being ready. He needs to be in form too.

"As much as we want Harry back, the competition for spots means he has to be able to play a role and it all needs to be what's best for the team.

"We'll pick our team for round one on the 22 that we think will give us the best chance to beat Richmond."

In better news for Carlton, Mitch McGovern is making rapid progress from a stint away from the main group and is targeting a return to action in the club's second Marsh Community Series clash against Brisbane at Ikon Park on March 8.

PRE-SEASON FIXTURE Check out your team's Marsh Community Series games

McGovern will not fly to Mandurah to meet Fremantle this weekend as he continues to work on his conditioning ahead of round one, but appears set to lead the club's new-look attacking unit for its season-opener against Richmond.

The club's high-performance team is mindful of ensuring both McKay and McGovern will be physically prepared for the entirety of the campaign, rather than just the start of the season, but is confident in the latter's preparation for the year ahead.

"He's done a lot of running this summer," Teague said.

"Some of it has been in the main training and some of it has been in a controlled environment off to the side. But, physically, he's a lot better this year.

"The last couple of weeks, he's stepped into training and the players are sitting back and watching what he can do. It's pretty exciting that his teammates can get to see that.

"His last couple of games for us were quite good, so I think with a good pre-season and with his form on the training track at the moment … if he can transfer that into games, I think his teammates and the fans will see a better Mitch McGovern in 2020."

Carlton's key forward stocks have endured an injury-plagued summer, with Charlie Curnow also hampered by dual knee injuries that could rule the promising youngster out of action until midway through the year.

There is currently "no definitive timeline" on Curnow's return date, while McKay and McGovern's respective issues have also clouded the exact make-up of the side's attacking group for its round one bout with Richmond.

However, the club has been pleased with Levi Casboult's return to the forward line this summer – with the veteran kicking four goals in last week's scratch match with Collingwood – while Jack Silvagni and Matthew Kennedy are also impressing as marking targets.

The addition of Eddie Betts and Jack Martin from Adelaide and Gold Coast respectively has also given the Blues a new dimension to their forward group, with Teague confident in their ability to hit the scoreboard in the early stages of the year.

"Would I have loved to have had every player on our entire list to have had awesome pre-seasons and be playing at their best? Yes, but it doesn't worry me," Teague said.

"It's a long season, so I'm not getting too caught up on round one. We'll put 22 players out there who are capable of performing. We have more than 22 right now and it's going to be tough to pick our team.

"We're going to have a team that's going to be ready to go out there and compete, so I'm very comfortable in that sense.

"We know that the team that plays in round 10 should beat the team that plays in round one, because we want to get better in every game. By round 23, hopefully we're playing at our best.

"We know there's room to grow, so it's not a massive concern. We've got to work at that chemistry and keep getting better and find out who the best players are."