Carlton golden boy Bryce Gibbs feels he's finished "his apprenticeship" and is ready to step up for finals football.

The 2006 No.1 draft pick will play his first AFL final, and Carlton's first since 2001, when the Blues take on the Lions in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Showing the poise and confidence that has him earmarked as a future Carlton captain, the 20-year-old said he would prepare like any other match.

"Personally I don't know what it's all about but I'll just keep my routine the same this week and do everything I've been doing this year," he said.

"Obviously the game's intensity is going to pick up and it's going to be a bit of a challenge to keep their crowd quiet.

"I'll just treat it like another game and prepare how I've prepared all year."

Gibbs has fulfilled the expectations that comes with being a top draft selection.

He said that initially he was happy to support Carlton captain Chris Judd in the midfield, but was now ready to assume more responsibility.

"I've done my apprenticeship so to speak and I'm ready to take full responsibility for my performances week in and out, whether I play a bad game or good," Gibbs said.

"There's no excuses any more, I've had a real taste of what AFL is all about."

With the club rebuilding after the lowest period in their proud history, Gibbs said the Blues had already achieved their aim for the year, but that didn't mean they weren't desperate to win the AFL flag.

"Our main aim at the start of the year was to play finals and we've achieved that," Gibbs said.

"Just to play a game in the finals atmosphere and intensity, because we're such a young group we're going to take so much away from it."

And playing alongside teammates such as Ryan Houlihan and Brendan Fevola, the only remaining Blues from the 2001 final, had shown Gibbs and his teammates to make the most of the chance.

"Ryan said he probably didn't see it early in his career or think of it as much as now, that these opportunities don't come along all the time and we've really got to take these opportunities and run with it," he said.

"You look at where the club's come from and just to get a chance this week, is fantastic."

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