A lack of suitable replacements means the Blues will continue to play prized recruit Matthew Kreuzer at a time when they must be sorely tempted to rest him.
Carlton went into 2008 with a clear policy of not wanting to overtax the No.1 pick from last year's national Draft, and coach Brett Ratten forecast several weeks ago that Kreuzer would enjoy a break sometime in the second-half of the season.
The 19-year-old has been paddling in the ruck in recent weeks but, according to Ratten, his services are still very much required at AFL level.
"It all depends on the growth of players underneath and Shaun Hampson has been going OK, but we need him to play a little bit better at Bullants level before we could maybe consider him," Ratten said on Wednesday.
"(Cain) Ackland was injured last week and didn't play at Bullants level so we’ve only got the two ruckmen at the moment."
The Blues will be counting on a big effort from Kreuzer and ruck partner Cameron Cloke against the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome on Sunday, on the rebound from last week's heavy loss to Geelong.
"I think the Bulldogs will bounce back, they'll come out pretty hungry and they'll try to get that momentum going into the finals in the last six weeks," said Ratten.
"They're a lot tougher at the footy (than last year) and around the stoppages they’ve really improved - (Ben) Hudson's really helped them there."
"(Adam) Cooney's growth this year has been enormous … and they have the luxury of putting Brad Johnson around the ball when they want, full-forward when they want, so they've got a lot of things to throw at the opposition."
Ratten said youngsters Mark Austin and Adam Hartlett would be persevered with this week and Andrew Walker had been cleared to play after injuring his 'good' shoulder in his return to AFL football against the Swans last Sunday.
The 22-year-old, who underwent shoulder surgery on the eve of the new season, was found to be suffering only from deep bruising.
Ratten said that while the Blues were initially down after the loss to the Swans, the mood has lifted as the week has advanced.
"It was disappointing we lost, but there were so many positives out of it," he said.
"That we could play the Swans at their own game and be in it for such a long time I thought was a real plus for us because previously we might have lost our way."
"I couldn't question the players' effort and their intensity and the pressure that they put on the opposition."