CARLTON insists Jarrad Waite and Andrew Carrazzo will be fit to play against St Kilda on Monday night.

The duo were late withdrawals ahead of the Blues 34-point loss to Collingwood last Friday with back injuries, however GM of Football Operations Andrew McKay expects both players to recover in time for Monday.

“Andrew we thought would come up after the week before,” McKay told carltonfc.com.au on Wednesday.

“We made the decision very late and he didn’t come up. But certainly it’s looking a lot more positive this week and we are confident that he will play.

“Waite had a spasm last week and we thought he would be fine to be honest. It’s improving really well. The benefit we’ve got is that we play St Kilda on Monday night, so we have a couple of extra days to rest.”

Carrazzo, 30, hasn’t played since Carlton’s round five win over the Western Bulldogs, while Waite has booted eight goals in five matches this season.

Running playmaker forward Chris Yarran is also a chance to return from a hamstring injury, as is diminutive midfielder David Ellard, who has missed the last fortnight with a calf complaint.

"Chris [Yarran] had a tight hamstring from the week before. He will be a test and we are very hopeful that he will be playing for us."

"David trained late last week as well and he was pushing for selection and we thought given his history, we wouldn’t risk him. But he’s done all the training this week and he will be putting his name forward for selection," McKay said.

Midfielders Chris Judd and Ed Curnow remain 3-4 weeks away.