LEVI Casboult and Jacob Weitering are expected to be available for next week’s season opener against Richmond.

Carlton’s Director of High Performance Andrew Russell confirmed on Thursday that the duo were likely starters against the Tigers as things stand.

As well as saying that Harry McKay and Jack Newnes would undergo fitness tests, Russell said that the key pillars in attack and defence were well on track for Round 1.

Weitering sustained a corked hip in the AAMI Community Series clash with St Kilda, while Casboult jarred his knee in match simulation in February.

“Jacob probably could have played [the second half against St Kilda], he was pretty upset with me when he came off. He’s fine, he’ll be 100 per cent,” Russell said.

“Levi’s knee is settling down really well. He trained yesterday, he trained late last week and he’ll train again late this week.

“We expect him to be available if everything continues on the track that he’s showing us right now.”

Russell said that McKay and Newnes would both be given every chance to prove their fitness ahead of the season opener in seven days.

Both players sustained rolled ankles in last week’s practice match against the Saints, with McKay’s coming about from a separate incident in the first quarter.

“Harry stirred his ankle up against Essendon and it settled down really well before the St Kilda game,” Russell said.

“He stepped on someone’s ankle again, there’s a bit of bad luck sometimes. He’s settling down and he’s very similar to ‘Newnesy’... he'll be a test early in the week where we see if he's available."

Eddie Betts will also be available for selection, but back stiffness for Mitch McGovern - and not the hamstring injury he has now recovered from - has all but ruled him out for the season opener.

“We haven’t quite been able to get the work in that we’ve wanted to get in, so it looks like that he’ll miss Round 1.”