CARLTON coach Brett Ratten believes his side can do some damage in September should the Blues overcome the odds and fight their way to a finals berth in the next two weeks.

After 21 rounds, ninth-placed Carlton effectively needs to win its remaining games against Gold Coast and St Kilda and hope that Fremantle (8th) loses to either North Melbourne or Melbourne.

If that scenario unfolds, the Blues will have won seven of nine games heading into the finals. 

"If we make it, we'll be in good form," Ratten said from Visy Park on Wednesday. 

"From where we've come from mid-season, if we did make it we'd be dangerous."

However, percentage further complicates the issue with Carlton less than one percentage point ahead of Freo.

Both teams have opportunities to boost their percentage - the Suns are 17th and the Demons 16th on the ladder heading into round 22 - but Ratten said the Blues could not afford to take that mindset into Saturday night's encounter at Metricon Stadium.

"We've got to win the game - we just need that four points that's all we need - if we don't get the four points that's our season finished," he said.

"Whether [the margin] is one point or 10 points I'm not worried - let's just get the four points and deal with whatever comes.

"[We] won't have to guard against complacency. We know exactly where we sit - we have to win [two] games of football and that's what we'll be doing.

"I don't think this group are going to take their eyes off the ball and worry about going to the Gold Coast for a holiday or anything like that.

"They'll be making sure that we get the job done."

Carlton will most likely have to do so without regular full-back Michael Jamison, who Ratten said "will probably not" make the trip after spending two weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring strain.

Suns skipper Gary Ablett looms as the major threat to the Blues' finals aspirations and Ratten said a lot of time had been put into devising a strategy to combat the prolific onballer.

"He'll have to be stopped, but nearly every team has tried to stop him this season and don't get any result," he said.

"So it will be a good challenge for whoever gets the role.

"It might be a dual role for a couple of blokes to run with him to try and reduce that influence he has on the game."

Rob Warnock is also unlikely to take any further part this season with the ruckman's shoulder injury, suffered against Hawthorn in round 14, not improving despite several weeks out.