Results favoured finals hopeful Carlton on the weekend but midfielder Kade Simpson believes the Blues' destiny is firmly in their own hands.
Carlton ended a four-game losing streak on Saturday night with a six-goal win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium to remain in the race for a top-eight berth.
The Blues are a game behind eighth-placed Port Adelaide and just percentage clear of West Coast.
A game further back is North Melbourne, Carlton's opponent at Etihad Stadium this Friday night.
"There's probably about six sides that have cemented their spot (in the eight) but there's probably about four or five that are really fighting (it) out for two spots in the eight, so every week's going to be huge," Simpson said on Monday afternoon.
"The Kangaroos are one of those sides, along with us. So this week we're really looking forward to the contest.
"If we continue winning we should make finals. But we don’t want to have to rely on other teams losing to get there. We've got seven games left and we're going to have to win most of them to make the finals, so every game is a big one."
Simpson said the win over St Kilda couldn’t have come at a better time.
"Obviously it was a pretty tough month. We couldn’t get a win on the board and we were playing reasonable football apart from the Collingwood game," he said.
"Just to get that win probably takes a bit of pressure off and just gets the enjoyment back in football. (It) adds a lot around the club and makes training a lot more enjoyable."
The Blues have improved their record at Etihad Stadium of late, winning three of their past four games at the venue after just two wins in their previous 10 games there. Their recent wins there have been over Port Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney and now St Kilda.
Simpson wasn’t sure for the reasons behind the poor record or the improved form, but believes "the quick deck" at the indoor stadium suits the Blues' pacy line-up.
He said star forward Jarrad Waite, who missed the Saints' clash with bone bruising to his left knee, could make a swift return if he got through the main training session on Tuesday.
Blues champion Chris Judd returned to his vintage best on Saturday night, showing more influence and penetration than at any other stage this season.
Simpson agreed to a point, saying Judd has been "playing pretty good footy for five or six weeks now".
"He definitely looks explosive (like) back in those days when he won his Brownlows," he said.
"I've always seen him as an absolute superstar. Even when he has an off night, he still does a lot of things that probably the media don’t realise but teammates do."
One Blue who had an off night against the Saints was experienced tagger Andrew Carrazzo.
In his second game back from a long-term calf injury, Carrazzo had just seven disposals before being subbed out of the match midway through the third term.
However, Simpson has backed his fellow vice-captain to return to form against the Kangaroos.
"He's a super player. You've got to remember he had eight or nine weeks out so to come straight back in and pick up the pace of the game is obviously tough but he'll be better for the run. He's just got to get more match fitness," he said.
"He's a ball winner and a key tagger as well for our side, so I've got no doubt he'll respond this week."
