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Frustrated Carlton supporters finally have something to smile about with key forward Charlie Curnow named to play his first AFL game since 2019.

Carlton forward Charlie Curnow is back for his first AFL game in more than two years after being named for the Blues' clash with St Kilda.

In a massive morale boost for the struggling club, Curnow will pair up with fellow key goal-kicker Harry McKay with the Coleman Medallist overcoming a toe injury that saw him miss last week's defeat against North Melbourne.

Curnow has endured a number of knee issues since last appearing in the Blues' senior side in round 15, 2019.

Before going down with injury, Curnow had emerged as one of the AFL's most exciting key forwards.

A week before he was sidelined, Curnow booted seven goals in a spellbinding performance to almost lift Carlton to an unlikely victory over the Western Bulldogs.

"Charlie has put in an incredible amount of work, over a long period of time, to earn himself the opportunity to pull on that navy blue guernsey," Carlton football manager Brad Lloyd said.

"Charlie has ticked every box with our medical and high-performance staff, his commitment and professionalism to be patient, trust the process and now get himself back fully fit and ready to go at the elite level is a testament to the character he is."

But the Blues will be without veteran forward Eddie Betts (ankle) and speedy defender Zac Williams (defender).

St Kilda will welcome back ruck-forward Rowan Marshall, who missed last week's eight-point loss to West Coast after being forced to isolate.

Marshall missed Wednesday's main training session at RSEA Park but Saints coach Brett Ratten sees no issue with him coming straight back into the Saints' team despite the unusual preparation.

Forward Jack Higgins, defender Tom Highmore and speedster Hunter Clark also return, but important halfback Jack Sinclair is out with a hamstring injury.

Ratten will face off against his former AFL club as rival coach David Teague faces mounting pressure to keep his job at Carlton.

Almost nine years after he was dumped by the Blues as they pursued three-time premiership mentor Mick Malthouse, Ratten needs no reminder of how brutal AFL coaching is.

Carlton will miss finals for an eighth-straight season, with last Saturday's dismal 39-point loss to the bottom-of-the-ladder Kangaroos placing extra heat on Teague.

"That's the nature of coaching. It's a brutal game, and the spotlight comes not fairly on people," Ratten said.

"It's a tough game. When we put our hand up to take it, we know what it looks like.

"You do feel for people and sometimes it's unfair and the attacks are personal by people out there, too."