Carlton coach Brett Ratten has called on his AFL team to take risks and play a "bold" brand of football in a bid to upset Collingwood.

A crowd of more than 80,000 is expected for Saturday's MCG blockbuster between two of the league's fiercest rivals.

Ratten accused his players of being like "statues" during last week's 27-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.

But he is convinced they have a genuine chance of upending the reigning premiers, who are storming towards another grand final.

Ratten said on Friday that his team must approach the game with more flair and avoid restricting themselves to conservative tactics.

That would mean a complete U-turn from last week's measured strategy.

"I thought last week we really beat ourselves and we really didn't play to our strengths," Ratten said.

"We need to really play to our strengths and if we make a few blues doing that, let's be a bit bolder.

"That's what we didn't do against the Bulldogs - we played non-risk football.

"We were really like statues on the weekend and we want to make sure we change it this week and get our running shoes on again."

Ratten acknowledges Collingwood are in formidable form - to the point that he has ignored trying to analyse them in detail.

The Magpies flexed their considerable muscle last Sunday and demolished North Melbourne by 117 points, considerably damaging the Kangaroos' finals credentials.

"We haven't gone through everything Collingwood does, because they do so many things so well," Ratten said.

"That performance last week (against North Melbourne), to keep an opposition team to three goals, was outstanding."

But Ratten remains confident Collingwood's grip can be broken.

"They're in great form but we think we're a real chance this week," he said.

"We think we can win - at the `G, our form and things like that, we're in this right up to our necks."

Carlton will include mature-age rookie Wayde Twomey for his senior debut and Ratten is confident he will not be fazed by the finals-like atmosphere and packed crowd.

"He's one of these players that's played really well in big games at WAFL level," Ratten said. "He played in the grand final last year and had a great game.

"I know it's his first game but he'll really do a great job for us," he said.

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