Carlton is improving but can't afford to relax against winless bottom side Greater Western Sydney. The Blues have won five of their past six games to sneak back into the top eight, but are among a logjam of six teams level on 20 premiership points, so they need to distance themselves from the pack. The players are also still trying to perfect Mick Malthouse's game plan and alleviate their frustrating lapses, so they should be hell-bent on producing a ruthless four-quarter effort. Meanwhile, the youthful Giants will be hoping to reproduce the heroics that gave Essendon a scare at the same venue in round six.

WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Saturday June 1, 1.45pm

R6, 2012, Carlton 15.20 (110) d Greater Western Sydney 6.7 (43) at Etihad Stadium.

1. In their only previous clash, Carlton big man Shaun Hampson (the Blues' fourth-ranked forward according to Official AFL Player Ratings) received three votes in the Brownlow Medal after kicking three goals and having 31 hitouts, while Toby Greene (the sixth-ranked Giant overall) also starred with 28 possessions.

2. GWS is sixth in centre clearances, while Carlton is 10th.

3. GWS has the second-worst offense this season; Carlton is seventh.

4. GWS was impressive when it last visited Etihad Stadium, leading Essendon by 28 points early in the third quarter before losing by 39. Jeremy Cameron kicked a club-record six goals.

5. Kevin Sheedy will coach against Carlton for the 59th time. He has 33 wins, 23 losses and two draws.

6. It will be a battle between coaching oracles who sit second (Mick Malthouse) and third (Sheedy) on the list of games coached. Between them, they have coached 1341 games. They first faced each other 29 years ago.