Preview: Blues v Lions

VENUE & TIME: Telstra Dome, 7.10pm AEST Saturday 17 May

HEAD TO HEAD: Wins: Carlton 6, Brisbane Lions - 9

LAST TIME: Brisbane Lions 25.13 (163) def Carlton 6.10 (46), Round 16, 2007, at the Gabba

WALKING WOUNDED: Carlton's official injury list: Dennis Armfield (hamstring) - 2 weeks, Jordan Bannister (ruptured hamstring) - 2 weeks, Luke Blackwell (thigh) - test, Cameron Cloke (wrist) - 2 weeks, Richard Hadley (groin) - test, Adam Hartlett (hamstring) - 1 week, Ryan Houlihan (hip) - indefinite, Ryan Jackson (hand) - 2-3 weeks, Sam Jacobs (ankle) - test, Jason Saddington (hamstring) - test, Bret Thornton (knee) - 5 weeks, Andrew Walker (shoulder) - 6 weeks. Brisbane's official injury list: Josh Drummond (quad) - available, Simon Black (groin) - test, Nigel Lappin (Achilles) - test, Travis Johnstone (hamstring) - test, James Polkinghorne (A/C Joint) - test, Ashley McGrath (ankle) - test, Joel Tippett (finger) - test, Wayde Mills (knee) - test, Patrick Garner (hamstring) - 1 week, Colm Begley (quad) - 4 weeks, Pearce Hanley (hamstring) - 4 weeks, Matthew Moody (groin) - indefinite, Sam Sheldon (groin) - indefinite.

FORM: The Blues are sitting in 11th place on the ladder outside the eight on percentage at 3-4. All three victories - against Collingwood, Melbourne and West Coast - have come in their past four matches. Coming off a last start loss to Geelong, the Lions are placed one spot above Carlton, also at 3-4. Their seven matches so far this season have gone L,W,L,W,L,W,L.

WHO'S HOT: Andrew Carrazzo's 42-possession haul for Carlton against West Coast in Round 7 was the best by any player in a match this season. Joel Macdonald doesn't make too many headlines, but the hard-working Lions defender was outstanding against the Cats last time in with 30 disposals and 10 marks.

WE THINK: Brisbane has a seven-match winning streak on the go against Carlton in premiership matches, though the Blues upset the trend in the 2007 NAB Cup Grand Final. The Lions' run includes some almighty thumpings, including the 117-point win at the Gabba last year which precipitated Denis Pagan's sacking. Jonathan Brown bagged 10 that day and has earned three Brownlow votes in each of his past three outings against Carlton. While Brown has attracted much of the attention this year, Daniel Bradshaw has been scoring the goals. With the addition of Judd, Kreuzer and others and Fevola firing, the Blues are much more settled, talented and confident now than the rabble under Pagan and will measure their improvement by their performance against a team that's at their level. Brisbane Lions by 8 points.