CARLTON coach Brett Ratten says he's looking forward to the challenge of trying to turn the underperforming club's fortunes around.

In an upbeat mood in the face of intense speculation about his future, Ratten accepted responsibility for the Blues' current form line of five losses from its past six matches, but said he welcomed the test of his leadership.

"Anyone that has been involved in football, you have moments where you are challenged, and it's just part of the game," Ratten said after appearing at the annual Peter Mac breakfast on Wednesday morning.

"I think the best form of leadership is not when you're going well, it's when you're not going so well.

"People can point the bone at me, and that's fine, that's fair enough.

"I'm the person that holds the responsibility of our football club and our team.

"This puts me in a spot where I'm challenged, and I suppose you have those moments where you go, 'are you up for the fight?' Well yes, I am.

"So I'm really looking forward to it.

"This is the time when coaches, teams, players, when you really test yourself.

"When it's not going the way that you want it to, you have to do something about it.

"That's what brings out the best in people, and the people around you, hopefully."

Ratten said he had not heard Stephen Kernahan's interview on 3AW on Tuesday night, where the Blues president refused to categorically guarantee the coach's position.

But he said he had been in regular dialogue with Kernahan, and had no reason to believe his job was in danger.

"We haven't had that conversation," Ratten said.

Ratten said he expected to see "raw passion and emotion" from his players against traditional rival Collingwood on Friday night after a disappointing performance in the 50-point loss to Hawthorn last week.