CARLTON coach Brett Ratten says Chris Judd is determined to "make a splash" in his return match against Essendon on Saturday after looking on from the sidelines for the past four weeks.
Ratten said on Wednesday that the Blues' skipper felt like he owed the team after incurring a four-game suspension for a chicken wing tackle on North Melbourne's Leigh Adams.
Carlton managed to win thee matches during Judd's absence, but Ratten welcomed the dual Brownlow medallist's return for a match whose outcome will have far-reaching consequences for both clubs as they fight for a finals berth.
"Let's not beat around the bush - whoever loses, [it] might be the end of their season," Ratten said from Visy Park.
"It's a T-intersection for two teams - one's going to come out of it fine and one's not.
"So that's where we sit."
Ratten confirmed Eddie Betts would take his place in the side for the crucial encounter despite being subbed out of last week's win against the Brisbane Lions after suffering a knock to a calf.
Michael Jamison is only "50-50" to return from a hamstring strain, but with Jarrad Waite, Andrew Walker, Kade Simpson and Mitch Robinson all returning to the line-up in recent weeks, Judd's return is another shot in the arm for the team with three games left to play in the home-and-away season.
"He's a great leader, he's trained really well, and he's jumping out of his skin to get back in the team and really assist the players," Ratten said.
"Just to get your champ back in … it'll be great.
"I think he wants to come back and have an influence on the team. I think he wants to come back and make a splash.
"I wouldn't say [he's had a] mini-preseason, but I think with the freshness in his legs you'll see him really run across the ground really well on the weekend."
Carlton is one win behind the eighth-placed Bombers, who have lost their past four games, and will likely need to win all of its remaining matches to secure a finals berth.
Ratten agreed it would be a tough, physical encounter at the MCG, but not because of the Dons' aggressive approach back in round four when they inflicted the Blues' first loss of the season.
"It will be a great battle between two arch-rivals with their seasons on the line," he said.
"We expect nothing less … we know what they can do and how they can play and the talent in their team - I think we're going to have to be at the top of our game to beat them."
Ratten's future at the club has been the subject of speculation throughout a season that has been deeply affected by injuries and was again questioned in a television news report on Tuesday night.
The report claimed a divided board was unsure of how to proceed with its coaching future, but Ratten dismissed it as baseless.
"Where does it come from?" he mused.
"It's just made up. It's manufactured journalism - again.
"Good luck to them. If you want to build your reputation on throwaway lines then your credibility will last for so long and then people start to see through that."
