Carlton veteran Heath Scotland says a "burning desire" to atone for last year's AFL finals fade-out will drive the Blues against Sydney on Sunday.

The ANZ Stadium elimination final falls exactly one year after Carlton's nightmare at the Gabba, when the club's first final in eight years ended in a seven-point loss to Brisbane.

The Blues looked set for victory, ahead by four goals at the last change, but capitulated in the final term, on a night when skipper Chris Judd also earned a three-game suspension.

Scotland said the memory of that defeat had been a driver for his side this season.

"It was great to make the finals last year and it was really disappointing how it ended for us, but we obviously want to go further than we did last year," he said on Tuesday.

"It was six months before we could really hit the training track properly and play a game, we had to really carry that from last year.

"So deep down it leaves a little bit of a burning desire to go one better and we can only do that on Sunday."

While many suspected the Blues would be in for an on-field downturn this season following star forward Brendan Fevola's departure, Scotland said the club's own ambition had always been to improve on last year.

"We don't really care what everyone outside (expects), how they rate us, and obviously to improve on last year, yeah we do need to win," he said.

"That was a goal of ours this year - to play finals football.

"Now we've got the opportunity to do that, we don't want to be there to make up the numbers, we're there to win it like everyone else, so for us we do need to win."

Scotland, formerly of Collingwood, is one of just five players on the Blues' list with finals experience other than last year's Gabba loss.

Fullback Michael Jamison does not even have that memory to draw on, having been sidelined by shoulder surgery last September, but said lack of experience did not dampen his ambition.

"I'm not sure what to expect, to be honest, but I think the important thing for the guys like myself and Heath and the leadership group is to ensure that the guys aren't just happy to go out this week and enjoy the experience," he said.

"We're not just there to get some experience, we're there to win the game."

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