Nick Stevens will not play in the NAB Challenge match against the Western Bulldogs at MC Labour Park this Friday night.

Stevens was restricted to walking laps during training on Monday and it was decided to rest him from this week’s match to ensure he is ready for the start of the season on March 20th.

Stevens has regular scans on his neck as part of the rehabilitation following the injury suffered in 2007 and while scans on Monday confirmed there are no complications, he did suffer a neck strain last week and is receiving treatment for this. While disappointed to have suffered the neck strain Stevens was assured this has no relation to the injury he suffered last year.

“The neck is just a little stiff, thankfully there are no real problems and I expect to be fine in a couple of days. It certainly doesn’t feel anything like the injury last year, it is just a strain,” Stevens said.

“The main reason I was unable to train on Monday was because I have an infected knee from a cut and burn I received when playing against Hawthorn at The Dome in the NAB Cup,” added Stevens.

Stevens has completed all training sessions since being given the all clear to return to football action late last year and has played in all but one of Carlton’s pre-season matches, including practise matches. While Carlton supporters will miss seeing him in action on Friday night at MC Labour Park they will get to see Chris Judd play his first game in the famous Dark Navy Blue guernsey.

“Carlton supporters will have to wait until round one against Richmond at the MCG to see Stevens and Judd together in the navy blue,” said General Manager Football Operations, Steven Icke.

Carlton will play the Western Bulldogs at MC Labour Park at 4.30pm on Friday March 7th in the NAB Challenge; gates will open at 3.30pm.