The fifth-placed Eagles will be looking to move into the top four after Sydney's loss to reigning premiers Hawthorn on Thursday night.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton said his team wasn't intimidated by the Eagles and saw Sunday's match as an opportunity to develop his young Blues.

"I look at this game as a benchmarking game because they [the Eagles] were grand finalists last year and we can learn from it – win, lose or draw," Bolton said.

"Most games are tough … it's going to be a huge contest and they can score really quickly from stoppages … We need to be on."

The Blues will miss tall forward Casboult, who accepted a one-week ban for his strike on Adelaide's Kyle Hartigan last round.

"I think if Levi had his time again he would do things differently, but, you know, again, he's got to learn from that, we move on."

Bolton said he wasn't deterred by the big man's absence on Sunday.

"Without Levi it's [an] opportunity for others.

"I think we have got a few changes this week and I look at it as an opportunity for those who haven't played regular senior footy. I think it's really exciting and in a funny way it gives our group a bit of spark and excitement."

Minor injuries will also keep Walker (knee) and Thomas (calf) out of the side but Bolton is optimistic the duo can make a speedy recovery.

"I think they will be a couple of weeks. We will just wait and see how they pull up over the next week."

Despite last week's 60-point loss to Adelaide, Bolton said spirits remained high.

"On the weekend in the first half we had multiple turnovers in our forward half which shows progress," Bolton said.

"When you can see the little steps going forward in games … the spirits are always high. We just need to learn to do the system for longer."