Carlton coach Mick Malthouse wary of Essendon rebounding on the field

CARLTON coach Mick Malthouse has described Saturday night's clash against besieged Essendon as a mini-final.

Mick Malthouse

CARLTON coach Mick Malthouse has described Saturday night's clash against besieged Essendon as a mini-final for his team as it fights to keep its finals hopes flickering.

After another dramatic week for the Bombers as the supplements scandal escalates, Malthouse did not want to buy into the issue today, preferring to highlight the challenge in front of the ninth-placed Blues to stay alive in the finals race.

"It's a must-win game, yes. It's probably mini-finals in many respects for us,'' Malthouse said.

"Destiny is not necessarily in our own hands, but we have got to keep winning.

"We are going to rely heavily on Fremantle, of course. We are playing a side that is in the (top) eight, has played some fantastic football, has fallen off a bit in the last couple of weeks and that's the danger.

"We know they have got the capability of rebounding so we have got to be very switched on and take nothing for granted.''

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Malthouse did not want to speculate on the impact the week has had on the Bombers, saying the Blues had to concentrate on keeping their own focus for the MCG clash.

"They've had this sort of stuff all year, so they have been able to cope pretty well to win the games that they've won,'' he said.

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"I don't know, not being in the club, I'm not too sure how it's affecting them. Only they would know how all this stuff goes.

"We can't be concerned with that. The simple fact is that we play a very good Essendon side.

"It's important that we just maintain our urge to want to win and get there.

"It may well get down to the last game, but we've got to worry about the second-last game. This one here is so important to us.''

While Malthouse has previously been outspoken about the Essendon saga, urging the AFL to take a strong stand on the supplements scandal, he took a step back from the issue today.

"The events of yesterday - it's an ongoing saga is how I see it,'' Malthouse said.

"We're not part of it so we just step back now and let what is to be, to be.

"It's an AFL issue with the Essendon Football Club, not worrying about these other things that are no doubt hanging over their head.''

Asked whether the game had been wounded, Malthouse again turned the spotlight back on to the on-field challenge facing the Blues.

"The initial worry that we have got is picking the best side, train tomorrow, get through that and playing the Essendon Football Club who are in the eight looking to strengthen their position within the eight and our position to stay alive for the eight.

"Anything else is irrelevant right now for us, totally irrelevant.''

Malthouse said midfield star Chris Judd was progressing well with his injured knee.

"He is going well. He would like to be out there but he is not,'' he said.

"He will miss another week and we will see how he goes.''