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Carlton are confident Charlie Curnow will be fit for the start of the 2020 AFL season after the forward injured his knee playing basketball with teammates.

Carlton forward Charlie Curnow will have surgery on his right knee after injuring it playing social basketball.

Curnow fell while playing "non-competitive" basketball with teammates, hurting his knee.

He will undergo ligament repair to stabilise the patella in his knee, with the Blues confident the talented young forward will be fit before the commencement of the next AFL season while delaying his pre-season start.

"We are confident surgery will be the right course of action to allow him to recover fully," Carlton head of football Brad Lloyd said.

"We expect he will be back running prior to Christmas as he prepares for the start of the 2020 season.

"While Charlie is really disappointed, he is determined to attack his rehab and do everything he possibly can to get back to his best and help his teammates achieve success next year."

Curnow has played 58 games for the Blues since making his debut in 2017, kicking 77 goals.

Knee issues limited him to just 11 games in 2019.