CARLTON'S recent form slump, although alarming to fans, has given coach Brett Ratten an invaluable insight into the strengths and weaknesses of his playing list.

The Blues have lost three of their past four games with key players Michael Jamison, Jarrad Waite and Andrew Carrazzo sidelined.

Although the club's grip on fourth spot has been loosened by the indifferent month, Ratten is confident the tough lessons learned will hold his team in good stead come September. 

"We've given players opportunities and we're finding out about players because will [those injured players] be back?" Ratten said from Visy Park on Wednesday.

"I know they will back, but whether they re-injure themselves or someone else goes down … what we're doing is finding out about our list for the finals.

"Regardless of which 22 run out we expect to get a [positive] result, and we'll keep pushing that, but we are fine-tuning and trying to get the best out of every player on our list. I think it's given us more of an insight into our list.

"It will be good for us going forward."

Ratten was able to draw some positives from Carlton's latest defeat by 19 points to Collingwood, with some braver ball movement and team energy key among them, but he is by no means content with the situation.

"We don't accept losing," he said.

"We went there with a plan and we thought we got close with that, but we don't walk away and start patting everyone on the back for a loss.

"I thought the way we played and our endeavour was pretty good, but we have to address that four points went begging again."

Jordan Russell missed the Magpies' game with general soreness, but will be close to a return for Saturday night's clash against Essendon, as will Setanta O'hAilpin, who has missed five weeks with a hand injury.

However, Simon White, Aaron Joseph and Carrazzo have all sustained hamstring injuries and can't be considered for selection.

The Blues' potency in attack has waned significantly in the past fortnight, which could be good news for O'hAilpin whose crash-and-bash style could be just the spark Ratten's forward line needs.

With Waite, O'hAilpin and fellow tall Shaun Hampson missing, and Lachie Henderson forced into a defensive role, ruckman Matthew Kreuzer has spent more time in attack for a modest return of two goals in six matches.

"We're still working with Kreuze as a forward," Ratten said.

"We probably just need to get a bit more out of Matthew as a forward and we probably haven't kicked the ball to him that well either.

"If you look at his six games, he's only been the target seven times which is extremely low considering someone like Travis Cloke goes at something like 14, 15 or 16 a game. We haven't really kicked the ball to Matthew and given him the opportunity he deserves to develop as a forward as well.

"It's probably a bit about Matthew's positioning as well. I think it's a combination of both."

Carlton drew with the Bombers when they last met in round four. Ratten expects a much different type of game this time around with the coach noting Essendon's long kicks have dropped off sharply to be replaced by more of a run-and-carry approach.