ESSENDON'S lengthy injury list and indifferent form against Gold Coast has seen bookmakers install Carlton as red-hot favourites for Saturday's clash at the MCG, but Blues coach Brett Ratten says the underdog tag doesn't apply to the Bombers.

Both teams are undefeated and sit inside the top four after three matches, so Ratten isn't buying into any doom and gloom scenarios about the Dons.

"There's maybe a few smokescreens going on there with that team and trying to cover up, but offensively they're playing some very good football," Ratten said from Visy Park on Wednesday.

"They get 30-plus shots a game, they're going inside 50 around 60 times, they mark the ball inside on 15 occasions [on average] to be inside the top four … I think they're going a bit better than they're letting on.

"I think from a defensive point of view they've cleaned up a few areas as well, so they're in a lot better form than they're letting on or that maybe they're getting credit for."

While the form of the Bombers might be open to debate, there's no doubting the Blues are going into Saturday's match in excellent shape.

Carlton fielded its strongest side of the season in last Friday night's thrashing of Collingwood, and Ratten concedes there is an expectation from inside and outside the club that they'll remain undefeated after Saturday's clash.

Being cast as a favourite hasn't sat well with Carlton teams for most of Ratten's tenure, but the coach feels his current side is better equipped to deal with the tag.

"I think four or five years ago we were probably carrying the favourite tag going into games and we didn't handle that well, [but] I think we've overcome that with the expectations of the last couple of years," he said.

"Four and five years ago I think the group tried to avoid those [expectations] and not sort of deal with it, but now they're really looking forward to it and the challenge.

"I think the group is mature enough to handle it."

The Blues' impressive start to the season has seen them join Hawthorn as joint premiership favourites, but Ratten dismissed the betting market as irrelevant.

"I think the group knows that it's round three, and by the end of the year there could be four flag favourites or five or six or seven depending on how the season goes," he said.

"There's so much footy to be played."

Carlton is spoilt for choice at the selection table, with Dennis Armfield escaping serious damage after a knee scare against the Pies.

Ratten said Andrew Walker was nearing a return from a quad injury, and backed seldom-used onballer Brock McLean to return to the side at some point given his stellar form at VFL level.