HAWTHORN'S rapid ascension in 2007 is providing inspiration for their opponents in tomorrow night's NAB Cup clash.

The Hawks went from an 11th-place finish in 2006 to sixth last season, developing quicker than most experts had predicted. Blues midfielder Andrew Carrazzo says the Blues want to follow their rivals' upward curve.

 “With what the Hawks were able to do last year, [tomorrow's match is] a good challenge to see where we’re at,” Carrazzo said.

“This time of year everyone seems to be flying and going pretty well but I think sometimes a game against a good opponent can bring you back down to earth or give you an accurate reflection of where you’re at.”

While winning the NAB Cup hasn’t been a positive omen for the premiership season, Carrazzo is hopeful that the club's added depth in the midfield with new skipper Chris Judd, Nick Steven's return from injury and young players like Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs, will boost their performances for the season proper.

“It’ll be good for a few more guys to share the load and hopefully the time that will be spent in there is a bit more effective than those long periods of time we might have had in the past,” he said.

He also believes there are parallels between the Blues and the Hawks that the team can take inspiration from.

“They [Hawthorn] were able to show that with the young group they get confidence and they get some good leadership, that they can go a long way,” he said.

“They and Collingwood are probably the models of what you can do with a young team if you’re guided in the right direction, and everyone’s pulling in the right direction.”

Judd was named Blues captain earlier this week and Carrazzo says that although he won’t play tomorrow, the former Brownlow Medallist has already made an impact on the team.

“His training is at a fantastic level. There’s no coincidence that he’s one of the hardest workers and there’s fruits in the way he plays.

“He leads by example and he’s got that presence that when he speaks everyone really listens and he carries a lot of weight with what he says.”