Carlton defender Michael Jamison has declared Thursday night’s clash against the Brisbane Lions a “huge” game for the Blues’ run to September.

The Blues headed into the mid-season break on a disappointing note after losing two games on the trot, slipping to sixth position on the ladder and joining four other clubs on seven wins for the season.

Jamison said the Blues would have to take control of the second half of the season, starting on Thursday night, if they want to play finals footy in 2010.

“I think we want to keep our wins above our losses,” Jamison said from Visy Park on Monday.

 “We’re seven and six and we’ve given ourselves a reasonable foundation for finals. We’ve got ourselves into a position where it’s up to us we’re not going to rely on other teams to win or lose to make the final eight so if we win the games we think we should, we should be in a good position.”

Inconsistency has plagued Carlton so far in season 2010, but the Blues are yet to lose more than two games in a row.

The defeats couldn’t have come at better time, with the mid-season break giving Carlton a chance to re-group and work out where they went wrong.

“Traditionally, in particular this year, we respond pretty well after a loss so to lose two in a row in the manner that we did was disappointing,” Jamison said.

Blues fans can expect a more defensive Carlton side in the second half of the season, with coach Brett Ratten pin-pointing his side’s lack of defence, as well as their slow starts to games, as areas which need improvement.

“We were getting dominated, in particular earlier in games, which has probably been a focus this year,” Jamison said.

“If you start well then you play well so probably that and overall team defence I think. We were probably choosing to be a little more attacking rather than defensive at times when we should have been more defensive.”

While the Blues defensive pressure may need some work, it will be their forward line which will need a boost on Thursday night with some tall timber missing.

Key forward Jarrad Waite will miss through suspension, while there is no guarantee that out of form forward Setanta O’hAilpin will return from a calf injury despite training with the main group on Monday.

With ruckman Matthew Kreuzer out of the picture for the rest of the season, Jamison said it could be up to Shaun Hampson and Robbie Warnock to inject some height into the Carlton side.

“Luckily we’ve got two ruckmen in decent form in the VFL,” he said.

“Shaun Hampson and Robbie Warnock are probably competing for that spot but in saying that they could probably both come in as well. Shaun’s more than capable playing up forward so maybe Robbie into the ruck and Hamp up forward.”

Skipper Chris Judd completed a full training session and is expected to play on Thursday night after overcoming a minor ankle injury.