The Western Bulldogs enter Sunday's AFL game against Carlton as hot favourites but that has counted for little in recent clashes with the Blues.
Carlton have notched up two victories in their last three games against the Bulldogs, with a defeat in June 2019 coming by just three points.
The way the Blues cantered to a 52-point win last year is still imprinted in Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge's brain.
"(Carlton) had a high-scoring game against Essendon (last Sunday) and both teams were tested defensively with turnover," Beveridge said.
"As coaches we're always talking about respecting the opposition and last year we got a hiding through the midfield. We need to make sure we get first use."
The Bulldogs have had nine days to get over their second-half fadeout to Richmond which saw their unbeaten start to the season end.
There will be at least one change to the team that lost against the Tigers by 22 points, with defender Buku Khamis picked for his AFL debut.
A refugee from South Sudan who spent time in a refugee camp in Kenya, Khamis should be joined as an inclusion by Tim English.
The emerging big man missed last week with concussion and was sorely missed as replacement forward-ruck Josh Schache struggled.
Carlton took care of Essendon in a shoot-out at the MCG, overcoming a four-goal deficit during the second quarter.
Blues coach David Teague sees the Bulldogs as one of his team's biggest challenges.
"You want to play the best teams and our growth as a group is being able to compete against the best," he said.
"We've shown it for periods but we haven't done it consistently.
"We believe that if we can go out there and play somewhere near our best then we can (win)."
Australian Associated Press
