MELBOURNE coach Simon Goodwin expects star on-baller Clayton Oliver to slide seamlessly back into the Demons' midfield mix on his return from injury in the huge clash with Carlton.

The Blues are the competition's hottest team, riding a seven-match winning streak into Saturday night's MCG blockbuster.

But they will be without injured ball-winners Sam Walsh and Adam Cerra against a full-strength Demons engine room, which includes Oliver for the first time since round 10.

As revealed by AFL.com.au this week, Melbourne has improved statistically through the midfield – specifically in contested possession, clearance and midfield ground-ball differential – while Oliver has been sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Angus Brayshaw and James Jordon are among those to have stepped into the breach, allowing tough on-baller Jack Viney and forward-half weapon Christian Petracca to play their usual roles.

"We've worked incredibly hard on that part of our game in the last 10 weeks with Clayton being in rehab," Demons coach Goodwin said.

"Clayton will fit into that model, no worries at all. He's a fantastic clearance player, he's a fantastic stoppage player, and we'll make sure that midfield group has great synergy.

"That's a really important part of him coming back into the team now; building that cohesion over the next two or three weeks.

"But I have no fears that Clayton Oliver won't fit our midfield group. He's an elite player and we're just rapt to have him back."

Goodwin said Oliver had been training at "90 per cent for five or six weeks" before ticking the final boxes in recent days.

"He's raring to go. He's going to be really fit and strong and fresh," Goodwin said.

Remodelled forward Harry Petty's season-ending foot injury has opened the door for Brodie Grundy to renew his ruck-forward combination with Max Gawn, which has been on hold for a month.

High-profile recruit Grundy has spent time in the VFL working on his forward craft as Goodwin seeks to get the most out of his tall weapons.

"We love the combination in the ruck and what they provide us from a ruck perspective," Goodwin said.

"It's about maximising their input when they're forward of the ball.

"We've got a plan heading into the game but that may change in-game. You never know how that's going to play out."