Interim Carlton coach John Barker has urged his players to maintain the rage despite the suspension of Bryce Gibbs.
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Gibbs was outed for two games for his sling tackle on Robbie Gray last weekend which left the Port Adelaide star concussed and unable to play in the second half.
It is the image that has come to epitomise the reenergised Blues' first month under Barker after a season largely dogged by poor on-field efforts.
Carlton out-tackled the Power 71-56 on Saturday on the way to scoring their second win for the season and Barker wants that same ferocious appetite for the contest to be their new standard.
"In terms of intent, we know that probably our biggest challenge going forward is we need to keep strong pressure on the opposition and we need to keep strong, aggressive contests when the ball is in dispute," Barker said at Princes Park on Thursday.
"That's what our leaders are driving and that's what our leaders are demanding.
"We know that when you bring that sort of effort, you get to work on your game a bit.
"But it needs to be standard and we can't be really lauding it unless we can do that consistently."
Barker said the club didn't consider appealing Gibbs' suspension but admitted the reigning best-and-fairest's unavailability was disappointing.
Carlton's next opponent is fellow cellar dweller Gold Coast, but Barker didn't read too much into their 1-10 win-loss record – especially considering their superstar captain Gary Ablett was expected to make his long-awaited return from a shoulder injury.
"We expect him to play and we expect he'll be 100 percent," Barker said of Ablett.
Ablett's teammates Harley Bennell (calf), Steven May (groin), David Swallow (knee) and Rory Thompson (hip flexor) will also be pushing for senior recalls.
"They squeezed Fremantle to within an inch in their very last outing so they're a good football club, they're going to get a lot of good players back this week so we're under no illusion that it's going to be a very solid game on Sunday afternoon," Barker said.
Michael Jamison, David Ellard, Nick Holman and Blaine Boekhorst were all in the mix to be selected by Carlton after performing strongly in the VFL recently.
