Fremantle still believe they can make the AFL finals despite admitting to battling mental problems when the pressure is on to close out matches.

The Dockers have started their 2008 campaign in dismal fashion, winning just one from eight matches to sit 14th on the AFL ladder.

While the club is already three wins away from the top eight, assistant coach Chris Scott said the team could make up the deficit in the remaining 14 matches of the season and make the finals.

"My view is until it's mathematically impossible for us not to be there, (making the finals) is the way we're thinking," Scott said.

"I think that's logic - you don't give up after eight rounds."

Preventing another final-quarter fade-out will be a focus when they take on Carlton on Saturday at Telstra Dome.

In Round six, Fremantle blew a 25-point lead at the last break against reigning premiers Geelong to lose by one.

The following week, the Dockers squandered a 32-point break at three-quarter time to cellar-dwellers Melbourne, losing by six.

And last Sunday, their 18-point lead against the Western Bulldogs became a three point loss.

Scott, who played in back-to-back premierships with Brisbane from 2001-02, said the Dockers' ability to run out games could be a factor in the past three fade-outs.

But he added that the group trained as hard as Brisbane did during his playing days, conceding mental toughness was an issue.

"That's one part of it (mental toughness) but only one part of it," Scott said.

"Unfortunately, there are a whole number of things we're trying to fix, to improve that situation.

"Obviously if they are in the situation again, they just have to stand up and take the pressure."

Privately, the club believes the absence of experienced players through injury has not helped.

Defender Antoni Grover (quad) has been named to return against the Blues, but two more defenders - Marcus Drum (hamstring) and Roger Hayden (lung) - were injured late in the loss to the `Dogs and will not play.

Carlton have made three changes with Jake Edwards, Shaun Hampson and Brett Thornton coming in at the expense of Richard Hadley (groin), Michael Jamison (shoulder) and Cain Ackland (omitted).

Although in-form ruckman Aaron Sandilands should hold a decisive edge over his young rivals in Hampson and Matthew Kreuzer, Scott said the onball division needed to improve at reading the Docker giant's hitouts to capitalise.

"It's fair to say with Aaron's clear height and strength advantage we should have an advantage in the hitouts but Carlton's midfield is very good.

"They've got some exceptional players in there but unfortunately the correlation between the hitouts and the clearances for us hasn't been a positive one."

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