CARLTON assistant coach Matthew Lappin expects Essendon key forwards Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas to be dangerous on Saturday night despite their lack of output so far this season.

In the two matches so far, Lloyd has fail to goal while Lucas has just two majors.

But Lappin said writing off champion players was a foolish thing to do.

"They've been quality players for 10 or 12 years, so you write them off at your peril," Lappin said before training at Visy Park on Good Friday afternoon.

"Lloydy had his hands on a few last week and he looked like he was really close to grabbing a few big grabs and kicking some goals.

"It's unfortunate for us that (key defender Michael) Jamieson has gone down, but we're going to need a couple of other guys to step up, because those two are going to be really important for them come tomorrow night."

Jarrad Waite, who kicked three goals and trounced Matthew Richardson in round one as the Blues smashed the Tigers, is one option to go back to fill a hole.

"Look, we might have to look at that – Waitey also defends really well.

"We've got some other guys – Chris Johnson's back there – who might have to play tall, and it all depends on what sort of mix Essendon go with.

"If they go with an extra tall down forward, then he (Waite) might have to go and try and lock down a player."

At the other end of the ground, star forward Brendan Fevola has been playing with a bruised heel and spending the early part of each week on crutches to take weight off the injury, but Lappin said he was an important part of the mix at the Blues.

"He's going all right – his form last week was really encouraging, he applied really good defensive pressure up forward, and managed to kick four or five goals for the team.

"When the game was there to be won last week, I think he really stood up and that's important for our young group.

"He'll be fired up – it's the MCG, Saturday night versus Essendon – so I think you'll see a fired-up Brendan Fevola this week."