Carlton boasts more potential taggers than ever before, but chief stopper Andrew Carrazzo knows they will be stretched to their limits against a star-studded Fremantle midfield at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Until recently, veteran Carrazzo was the Blues' only regular run-with player, but coach Mick Malthouse has developed the man-on-man defensive skills of rookies Ed Curnow and Jaryd Cachia, while Dennis Armfield and even Kade Simpson and Bryce Gibbs have shown they can perform negating roles.

But in the lead up to a clash that has much riding on it – potentially a top-eight berth for Carlton and a top-four spot for Freo – Carrazzo was wary of a Dockers line-up that features a band of high-quality runners, including Nathan Fyfe (who is averaging 26.1 disposals this season), David Mundy (23.6), Michael Barlow (27.1), Stephen Hill (18.5) and Danyle Pearce (19.1).

"They've got the reputation as a great defensive team but sometimes what's overlooked is that they have some really dangerous players who can be really damaging when they get the ball in their hands," Carrazzo told AFL.com.au.

"They've got four or five guys worthy of being tagged, and we have to account for them if we're going to win. So I'd say there will be some roles in the midfield for myself, Ed Curnow and Jaryd Cachia, or maybe a couple of other guys. But it's a case of 'take your pick' because they're all fantastic players."

Carrazzo says he has played on Fyfe "a couple of times" and has had briefer stints on Hill and Mundy. 

He says he has "done OK" on Fyfe, but sums up a tagger's lot by adding that "when you’re playing on good players, you’re only one or two contests away from them getting on top of you, so you've got to be on your game the whole time".

This season the Blues haven't beaten a side in the top seven, but they have come close against Hawthorn, Geelong, Sydney Swans, Essendon, Richmond and Collingwood.

Carrazzo is excited about another opportunity to break this hoodoo and enhance their finals hopes, but is acutely aware of the challenge.

"I don't think there's any bigger test than the Dockers," he said.

"They’re developing a good team and culture like the Swans have.

"You take them on knowing you’re going to be in for a full-on battle, and a hard defensive and offensive slog. Sometimes you win those games just through good team play and pure effort. If we win, we'll know we've earned it."

Some have questioned whether the Blues use too many negating players in the midfield robbing themselves of some run and flair, but Carrazzo says that after wins over North Melbourne and Gold Coast they were now "closer to finding the right balance".

"It's dependent on the opposition, and sometimes we might have four or five players doing roles and other times it might be just one," he said. 

"Last weekend we only ran with Ablett, and Ed did a good job.

"If I get a run-with role, I'll welcome it. If not, I'm happy to do whatever's needed, whether it be as a 'mid', or at half-back like I did against Gold Coast to give one of our backmen a break."