The anger may have dissipated, but Carlton are confident the momentum that came with it won't let up ahead of the three matches they hope will shore up an AFL finals berth.

The Blues, who have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, remain in the top eight but need to beat Richmond at the MCG on Saturday to stay above the chasing pack.

Carlton rebounded from a poor display against Collingwood a fortnight ago to smash Essendon last weekend - clearly angry from a week-long backlash in which all at the club were questioned.

And assistant coach Brett Montgomery admits there can be no excuses for the Blues not backing up their impressive form from last week against the Tigers.

"Last week you saw a nice, angry side that bounced back really well, a side that was really comprehensively outplayed the week before," Montgomery said on Friday.

"We think we're on the way up again. The words used this week have been ... backing up the performance, backing up the effort and that ferocity we saw (last week).

"At training the intensity's been right back where it needed to be."

Games against Geelong and Fremantle follow over the next fortnight as the Blues battle with Sydney, Hawthorn, North Melbourne and Melbourne for the remaining three finals spots.

Not surprisingly, the Blues take an unchanged line-up into the Richmond clash.

They maintain their trio of small forwards in Eddie Betts, Chris Yarran and Jeff Garlett - a six-goal hero against Essendon who re-signed with Carlton this week.

Expected wet, slushy conditions at the MCG might be made to order for the three, who will take on a Tigers defence weakened by the loss of Luke McGuane to a virus.

Richmond will hand a debut to Irish rookie Jamie O'Reilly, who has pleased the club with his ability to adapt quickly to Australian Rules.

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