Alongside their obvious match-winners like Chris Judd, Carlton believe hard-nut Mitch Robinson has become capable of turning an AFL game.

With boosted self-belief and the team playing a contested style of football which suits him, Robinson has risen from tagger or defensive forward to an integral part of the Blues' star-studded midfield.

His exceptional performance in his side's 103-point demolition of Richmond last weekend demonstrated a new element of the 22-year-old's game.

Now his coaches believe Robinson is regularly capable of significant personal influence on a game through his kamikaze approach to winning the football and improved ability to use it.

"Mitch really does believe he belongs among the best midfields in the competition," Blues assistant Alan Richardson told AAP.

"This week against the Western Bulldogs he's going to go out and there'll be (Ryan) Griffen, there'll be (Adam) Cooney.

"Given we play a contested style of footy, that suits Mitch's attributes.

"Given he gets constant feedback about his own value to the team, consequently his own self-esteem has risen.

"He's in a pretty good headspace at the minute."

Robinson's in-close work will be crucial in a clash of two in-form teams at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The Bulldogs have emerged from an early season slump to win three successive matches, while Carlton are nestled comfortably in the top four.

Richardson is confident the move of regular forward Lachie Henderson to cover for injured Michael Jamison at fullback can work against the Bulldogs and for as long as necessary this season.

Henderson showed some good signs on Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt last weekend, and faces a testing match-up with Barry Hall on Sunday.

"We were most pleased with Lachie last week," Richardson said.

"He's got all the attributes, he's got really good speed, good size.

"We're definitely going to persist with him down there."

The Blues have brought back first-choice defenders Paul Bower and Nick Duigan for injured Simon White and Irishman Zach Tuohy, who has been dropped.

The Bulldogs recall forward Josh Hill to replace injured Ed Barlow.

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