CAM O’Shea will make his Carlton debut at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, 588 days after his last AFL game with Port Adelaide.

Named at half-back for the clash with Gold Coast, the 26-year-old joins David Cuningham as the Blues’ inclusions, while Matthew Kennedy (ankle) and Jack Silvagni (omitted) make way from the side which lost to Richmond in Round 1.

Delisted at the end of 2016 after 81 games with the Power, O’Shea never gave up on his dream of a return to the AFL, winning the Northern Blues’ best and fairest last year and earning selection in the VFL’s team of the year before joining Carlton in November’s pre-season draft.

Known for his elite endurance and outstanding intercept work, the 193cm defender impressed in Carlton’s JLT Community Series win over Hawthorn, collecting 10 disposals and four tackles in his allocated half of footy.

O’Shea’s return isn’t the only feel-good story for the Blues this week, with Marc Murphy set to notch up his 100th game as Carlton captain.

He will become just the fifth player in Carlton history to achieve the feat, joining Stephen Kernahan (226 games, 1987-1997), John Nicholls (188 games, 1961-1974), Craig Bradley (116 games, 1991-2001) and Chris Judd (105 games, 2008-2012).

The Blues and Suns will go head-to-head from 1:45pm EDT, with clear skies forecasted.

CARLTON'S ROUND 2 TEAM:

Backs20. Lachie Plowman14. Liam Jones23. Jacob Weitering
Half-backs24. Cam O'Shea22. Caleb Marchbank38. Ciaran Byrne
Centreline6. Kade Simpson9. Patrick Cripps18. Aaron Mullett
Half-forwards25. Zac Fisher41. Levi Casboult39. Dale Thomas
Forwards5. Sam Petrevski-Seton30. Charlie Curnow21. Jarrod Garlett
Followers8. Matthew Kreuzer35. Ed Curnow3. Marc Murphy (C)
Interchange2. Paddy Dow28. David Cuningham13. Jed Lamb
46. Matthew Wright
Emergencies11. Sam Kerridge10. Harry McKay29. Cameron Polson
1. Jack Silvagni

In: Cuningham, O'Shea

Out: Kennedy (ankle), J. Silvagni (omitted)

Milestones: Marc Murphy (100 games as Carlton captain), Jed Lamb (50 AFL games)