ANDREW Carrazzo will lead Carlton into its season-opening clash against Richmond in the absence of Chris Judd.

Carrazzo, 26, was chosen to skipper the side ahead of Kade Simpson and Michael Jamison, but those two players will take the reins in rounds two and three respectively with Judd to return from suspension against Adelaide in round four.

Thursday's match has added significance for Carrazzo who will be playing his 100th AFL game.

"The captaincy has been a hot topic in match committee and we spoke about it a fair bit," coach Brett Ratten told carltonfc.com.au.

"It's a great opportunity for our club to promote some of the players that we think are leaders of our club. They'll get a taste of what Chris Judd goes through from a Monday to Monday scenario - leading the team then reviewing in our team meetings as well.

"It will be added responsibility but it will be one that they're all looking forward to taking on."

The Blues, under the guidance of consulting firm Leading Teams, took the unusual step of keeping the make-up of their six-man leadership group for 2010 in-house, but it's fair to assume these three players make up half that group.

Judd misses after he was charged with making unreasonable and unnecessary contact to the face of Michael Rischitelli in the Blues' heart-breaking elimination final loss to the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba last September.

The club chose to forego an early guilty plea that would have seen their skipper miss two matches and consequently received unfavourable outcomes from the tribunal and an appeal that led to the three-match ban.