Carlton hope it's a case of in with the goods and out with the rubbish in Sunday's crucial AFL game against Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

The Blues will welcome key target Jarrad Waite back from suspension and into the forward line, with Carlton assistant coach Robert Harvey conceding Waite's return would count for little if the side's midfielders did not improve on last week's shocker against the Western Bulldogs.

"We definitely need him in to straighten us up, but the supply going in has just been rubbish the last few weeks so we've got to fix that part up first," Harvey said on Saturday.

"He's good enough to capitalise on those entries if we get them right, but it starts with our midfielders' better delivery and harder running forward ... so we can hit better options."

Harvey said Carlton's coaching panel had been encouraged by the Blues' desire to put a bad past month behind them, especially after last Sunday's limp effort, when they were belted by the Bulldogs by 68 points.

"The last month we've dropped off in a few areas that are really important to us and, it's no secret, it's around the intensity that's just dropped right off, so we're going to be focusing heavily on that," he said.

"Over the course of the week it's been pointed out and the players have been heavily involved in that whole process.

"They took a lot of that on board themselves and their response has been that they want to fix it, so that's a great sign."

Sunday's game is vital for both sides' finals aspirations, as Sydney (seventh) and Carlton (eighth) are level on eight wins and separated by 0.9 of a percentage point.

The winner will strengthen its position inside the top half of the ladder, whereas the loser will remain vulnerable to being overtaken by Adelaide or North Melbourne, who are outside the eight.

Harvey said despite the recent drop in Carlton's performances, most of the players deserved the chance to make amends.

"We still think we can play finals footy this year and the players that have put us in that position deserve the chance to be able to finish the job they started so they'll be backed to the hilt," he said.

"To play a finals-like game is going to be good for our young group.

"We need that challenge and we'll take that challenge on, hopefully. Every game is like that for us now."

In contrast to Carlton's plight, the Swans will aim to build on their impressive win over North last Sunday, during which Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes was at his brilliant best.

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