CARLTON'S backline has suffered a double blow, with Kade Simpson and Nic Newman both set to miss the next three weeks due to respective injury issues sustained last Sunday.

Meanwhile, Matthew Kreuzer's frustrating fitness problems have continued, with the ruckman set to miss Sunday's match with North Melbourne due to a minor adductor issue.

FULL INJURY LIST Who's ruled out and who's a test?

Simpson sat out the entirety of the second half of the club's narrow round six loss to Hawthorn, with scans on Tuesday determining low-grade hamstring damage.

Meanwhile, Newman – who jarred his knee during the clash in Launceston – sustained damage to his patella tendon and is also expected to miss much of the next month.

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It could put first-round draft pick Liam Stocker in the frame for an AFL debut, after the youngster continued to impress playing off half-back in the VFL over the weekend.

The club is unlikely to consider Tom Williamson as he continues his recovery from back problems, with Jarrod Garlett another option to return to the side in the backline.

In some good news on the injury front for the Blues, the club expects young forward Charlie Curnow to return this week having missed the last fortnight due to knee soreness.

Will Setterfield will also return from a two-week suspension for a dangerous tackle, while Andrew Phillips appears the man most likely to replace Kreuzer in the ruck.

Carlton plays North Melbourne, Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney over the next three weeks.