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Carlton star Charlie Curnow will miss up to a month of the AFL season after sustaining a medial ligament injury against Fremantle.

The sight of Charlie Curnow's right knee buckling inwards was heart-in-mouth stuff for Carlton supporters, but the young star was quickly confident he hadn't sustained serious damage.

Curnow will be sidelined for three to four weeks after straining a medial ligament in the Blues' upset win over Fremantle, the club announced on Tuesday.

He left Sunday's game at Optus Stadium in the first quarter after a heavy collision with Dockers rookie Ethan Hughes that could have easily caused anterior cruciate ligament damage, which would have ruled him out for a year.

But tests in the change rooms and follow-up scans have indicated a low-grade medial ligament strain

"I'd done a medial on the same knee before so I kind of knew that I'd done (another) one there," Curnow told reporters on Tuesday.

"I wasn't really too worried about the ACL, but it's always kind of in the back of your mind.

"I think we'll see how it goes (with my return) ... at the end of the week it might be different, I might be back sooner.

"It's touch and go, we'll have to see how it goes and let the swelling go down a bit."

Curnow's absence is a setback for the Blues who have enjoyed a resurgence under caretaker coach David Teague.

Carlton moved off the bottom of the ladder with their second win in three games under Teague and they will fancy their chances against strugglers Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.

The 22-year-old had just started to find some form after an injury-interrupted season that saw him miss three games with another knee injury.

"It hasn't been the easiest year, just with a few injuries," Curnow conceded.

"They haven't been serious setbacks, but they've just been annoying me a little bit.

"I've found a bit of consistency before this week, so to have another setback isn't the greatest, but it's part of the game and it's probably the best job in the world, so I'm lucky."

The Blues could regain co-captain Patrick Cripps from a foot sprain, the star midfielder to undergo a test ahead of round 16.