Carlton defender Michael Jamison says he is "really confident" the Blues will figure prominently in the finals – if they make it that far.

Carlton, which is ninth, needs to win its remaining two clashes against Essendon and Port Adelaide (at AAMI Stadium) and hope the eight-placed Power also loses to Fremantle in Perth on Saturday night.

Alternatively, Carlton could make the finals if seventh-placed Essendon is stripped of its premiership points as a result of AFL sanctions for the Bombers' controversial supplements program of 2011-12.

The understrength Blues' stirring 10-point win over Richmond at the MCG on Saturday, their first this year against a team inside the top six, has inspired fresh hope at Visy Park.

"Throughout the year, even though we've lost to those top teams it’s only been by a couple of goals – against Hawthorn and Sydney and Collingwood early in the year (where) we thought we had put on some really good performances," Jamison said.

"So if we do make the finals, and unfortunately we have to rely on teams losing, then we're really confident we can do well.

"The most annoying thing of the year is we've always known we could win those games. 

"It just confirms that belief that we've always had and gives us some good confidence for the next few weeks."

Jamison said that after disappointing losses to Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs in consecutive weeks at Etihad Stadium, the Blues needed to respond against the Tigers.

He said the team leaders, and the senior players in general, had taken a stand. 

And they needed to, given they were without Chris Judd (knee), Matthew Kreuzer (calf), Jeff Garlett (glute), Andrew Carrazzo (calf) and Matthew Watson (foot). 

Kreuzer and Garlett will be back soon, and Judd is a chance if the Blues make the finals, while Carrazzo and Watson are out for the season.

Just three members of the Blues' five-man leadership group played against Richmond – skipper Marc Murphy, joint vice-captain Kade Simpson and Jarrad Waite.

"All our leaders certainly acknowledged that they had to do more," Jamison said. "And not just (those) in the leadership group; I think it was all the senior players.

"We had to make a little bit of a stand and … not have all the reliance on Murph as an individual. 

"Murph's been fantastic for us this year as a captain but we need to realise it's his first year doing the job, so all the senior players had to stand up.

"A lot of players stood up, and there was probably no player that didn’t contribute."

Another massive MCG clash against an arch enemy beckons. The Blues are lower on the ladder than the Bombers but will enter the game as favourites, given Essendon has lost four consecutive games by at least 45 points for the first time in its history.

However, Jamison is wary of the Bombers.

"Form doesn't really come into it (when) you play Essendon, you play Collingwood, you play Richmond," he said.

"Towards the end of the year, and especially for us it means a lot (because) we need the four points to give ourselves the chance of making the finals."