CARLTON coach Brett Ratten has declared his team will do everything in its power to make the finals as it prepares to face Essendon in a blockbuster clash at the MCG on Saturday.

That will include welcoming back superstar skipper Chris Judd from suspension as the Blues finally piece together a team that resembles something near its best.

"We won't stop trying to make the finals," Ratten said following the win against the Lions at Etihad Stadium.

"Regardless of whether we can or can't, I think that we need to make sure from a respect point of view that we keep trying to win games of football and develop players to challenge them with the things that we want from our football team."

Rocked by injuries and suspension, Carlton has rarely had its best midfield together this season with Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson, Andrew Carrazzo, Mitch Robinson and Judd all absent at various times.

But the club has managed three wins from four games without Judd and is just one game and percentage outside of the eight.

"[Judd] has worked exceptionally hard behind the scenes, he has done extra work and he has done a fair bit of combat physical training as well," Ratten said.

"From a game point of view... I think he will be up to the speed, so he will just come straight back in and go from there."

However, the headaches are continuing for Ratten with concerns Robinson may miss after he was reported for allegedly striking the Lions Ryan Harwood in the final term.

Also, small forward Eddie Betts was subbed out from the game with a sore calf but Ratten said Betts would definitely play against the Bombers.

"I think it's another one of the rivalry games that always bring the best out of teams, and what better than to have your finals aspirations on the line and playing for that," Ratten said.

"It will be a full house and that's what you play football for, your backs to the wall and you have to perform."

Ratten was pleased with his team's effort against the Lions after it made a sluggish start.

"I thought our ball use going inside was terrible [in the first quarter], out on the full, free kicks against, outmarked and those types of things that as a forward line we don't want to do. We want to create a contest and that let ourselves down in the first quarter.

"I just thought our boys made the most of that third quarter and we got our hands on the ball at the start and really set the scene.

"It was fast and furious [in the third] and we kept the ball flowing and we just kept winning the ball. It was effective footy as well."