CARLTON hasn't beaten Hawthorn since round six of the 2005 season, but Andrew Carrazzo says the Blues are well placed to end the run of seven successive losses when the teams clash at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
Carrazzo said there was a buzz around Visy Park as the team prepared to take on the third-placed Hawks with finals just around the corner and he declared it was time Carlton bucked the undesirable trend.
"It's been a long time since I've played in a team that's beaten the Hawks," Carrazzo said after the team's final training session on Thursday.
"I'm not sure why we've lost so frequently to them, but this time around we're a much better team. We're playing a much more structured brand of footy.
"Individually we've got a greater number of players who are in form and playing well at the moment. All of those things combined probably put us in a better place.
"It will be good to play them when they're going really well too. It will be a bit of a measuring stick for us getting ready for the finals."
Michael Jamison trained well in the wet conditions at Visy Park to put his hand up to return to the team after seven weeks on the sidelines with a knee meniscus injury.
"He was moving pretty well," Carrazzo said of the important full-back's session.
"Hopefully he pulls up well after training and they give him the green light.
"Everyone in the team is fully aware of how important Jamo is, so the quicker we can get him back the better, but we want to make sure that he's right. We need him in the team long-term - that's the most important thing.
"I suppose there is a bit of a psychological factor [with Jamieson]. You get a lot of reassurance with Jamo in the team. You know what you're gonna get from him and he's obviously a great leader for the back line, which is really important for them and the rest of the team."
Carrazzo will play his second game back from a five-week calf injury against Hawthorn.
He was subbed out of last week's win against Fremantle, but he said that was just precautionary and he was feeling good after the longer-than-expected layoff.
"It went on a week or two longer [than I thought it would], but in hindsight now it was probably the best thing," he said.
"I probably didn't have my full confidence back with running, turning and jumping, which I've got now. I'm glad I waited an extra couple of weeks even though I probably didn't want to at the time."