The acid test will be on Carlton's young defence in Saturday night's AFL clash with Brisbane.

Daniel Bradshaw currently sits in third spot on the goalkicking table with 30 as he continues a remarkable return after a knee reconstruction.

Lions skipper Jonathan Brown has played something of a support role to Bradshaw so far in 2008, although he did kick 10 goals the last time these two sides met in round 16 last year.

Three days after that 117-point shellacking, Denis Pagan was fired as coach, with Brett Ratten taking over.

The improving Blues have looked much better this year with three wins from their opening seven games.

"You're never confident going into playing a team with two awesome forwards and a great midfield, but our young defence has really grown this year," Blues assistant coach Mark Riley said.

"The way we play as a team, we've assisted them with some other defensive mechanisms that we've put in place.

"I just see it as another great learning environment for two young defenders, whoever gets them.

"What a great opportunity for us to take on those two guys who are in ripping nick."

Any two of Michael Jamison, Jarrad Waite and Paul Bower are likely to get first crack at Bradshaw and Brown.

After recovering from shoulder surgery, the experienced Cain Ackland has been preferred over promising youngster Shaun Hampson to replace the injured Cameron Cloke (wrist) as the Blues' No.1 ruckman.

"Both boys played for the (Northern) Bullants last week and Cain's ruckwork over the last three weeks has probably been a little bit better," said Riley.

"He's very mature and we think with Matty Kreuzer being a very young, inexperienced ruckman, versus (Brisbane's Jamie) Charman, maybe we'd go with a bit more maturity."

Young ruckman Andrew Leuenberger was one of five omissions for the Lions, who welcomed back key trio Brown, Travis Johnstone and Simon Black.

Riley said he could see Carlton improving gradually since the start of the season.

"A fortnight ago we were okay over in Perth against probably a West Coast that hasn't been as dangerous as it has been in recent years but we look at these opportunities as a checkpoint to see where we're actually at," said Riley of Carlton's last-start 37-point win.

"So what a great opportunity for these young guys to pit themselves against a team that is top-eight material.

"I think we've chipped away and what I really like about the guys here is that everything we've focused on and everything we've coached they've endeavoured to do.

"We aren't doing it perfectly but we're showing improvements in what we believe are the areas to make us a good team.

"There's no timeframe - I can't say by round 16 we'll be fantastic or whatever, but we think Saturday night's a good opportunity."

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