It's not often the case that an AFL coach's chief concern is nullifying the opposition full-back, but that's the scenario facing Blues coach Brett Ratten ahead of the important clash.
Lake has been in All-Australian form, as evidenced by his recent performance against Hawthorn's Lance Franklin, and Ratten concedes he simply cannot allow Lake to exert a strong influence inside Carlton's forward 50.
"Lake is a real key for them and how you absorb him and make him responsible for someone or use his opponent to get into the game [is vital]," Ratten said from Visy Park on Thursday.
"He's in fantastic form. I think last week against probably the best forward in the competition he was outstanding so he's pretty critical to their team.
"Different scenarios have been thrown around [to combat his influence] and then we've got to make sure that we've got the personnel to achieve that result as well - that's the hard thing."
Ratten said the key issue was whether or not Carlton was prepared to let Lake get the football or not, but dismissed the notion of running a pure tag on the full-back.
"I don't know what Juddy's doing this week but we might throw him down there to see if he can soak up Brian," Ratten said.
While a duel between the all-star pair would be intriguing it’s a much safer bet that Lachie Henderson or Setanta O'hAilpin will be pitted against Lake in the hope small trio Eddie Betts, Chris Yarran and Jeff Garlett can do the damage.
The trio was responsible for nine of their team's 18 goals in the 55-point win over the Brisbane Lions last week and Ratten has impressed upon them the need to back up the performance.
"They're one week really good and then one week not as good," he said.
"They can be the barometer of our football team. Hopefully we can get two in a row from those boys."
The Blues and Bulldogs are locked together on 32 premiership points going into the match with the winner edging closer to a coveted top-four spot.
Even with his side coming off a long 10-day break, Ratten said there would be no time to work into the contest.
"Our starts have been really average in the last month so that's something we need to address to maybe get some control in the game," he said.
"It makes it a little bit easier from a coaching point of view and for the players' confidence.
"You make it a group focus, the pre-game routine we have a look at as well, even the balance of the team. We've had a look at a few areas we could fix up."
