Gold Coast have been given a big boost ahead of Saturday’s AFL clash with Carlton with midfielder David Swallow looking good to take on the Blues.

Swallow had failed to train all week after pulling up sore following last week’s win over St Kilda.

The 21-year-old will travel to Melbourne after coming through Friday’s final session, although coach Guy McKenna says he will only play Swallow against the Blues if he’s fully fit.

“I’d prefer if he’s not right to not play this week and play the last three games,” McKenna said. “He’s obviously very important.

“He’s had a very good year for us and that’s hard for Junior (Swallow) because that’s not his normal attitude to step away; in his eyes that’s hoisting the white flag.

“We’ll have to manage him.”

The Suns will also welcome first-year player Kade Kolodjashnij and small forward Brandon Matera back from injury for the vital trip to Etihad Stadium.

The ninth-placed Suns head south knowing a win will be crucial to their hopes of an inaugural finals berth.

McKenna said he believes the Blues are in cracking form after pushing Fremantle all the way last weekend.

The club’s off-field dramas stemming from a brawl outside a nightclub last weekend won’t prove a distraction, McKenna says.

Carlton have handed Jeff Garlett a one-match ban and fined him $2500 for his role in the brawl which also left suspended Mitch Robinson with a fractured eye socket.

McKenna believes Blues coach Mick Malthouse, who he knows well from days together at West Coast and Collingwood, will use the incident to his advantage.

“What I do know of Mick is that will certainly galvanise the group and if they needed any more motivation there’s another 10 or 15 per cent he would use,” he said.

“I wouldn’t like to be in a navy blue jumper this weekend and step out of a structure or be undisciplined on the field that’s for sure.”