Carlton midfielder Andrew Carrazzo says the Blues are deserving underdogs going into Thursday night's blockbuster AFL season-opener against Richmond.
But that doesn't mean he thinks Carlton won't get their campaign off to a winning start at the MCG.
"On last year's form I think Richmond should definitely go into the game as favourites," Carrazzo said on Monday.
"With the way they finished last year, and their pre-season form has been really good.
"We go into it feeling confident and feeling like if we play our best footy we can win but we certainly understand the challenge we're up against."
The Blues broke a run of seven round one clashes against the Tigers last year when they opened their season against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.
Their campaign hit trouble early and never fully recovered after they lost that match and also suffered defeats in the three games that followed.
"I really do think we're in a much better place this year than what we were last year at the same time," Carrazzo said.
"The standard of training and having more guys on the track ... I think we're in a much better place.
"But the pre-season has come and gone now and it just comes down to attitude ... it comes down to who comes to play on Thursday night and I'm confident that will be us."
Bryce Gibbs and Robbie Warnock suffered shoulder injuries in the NAB Challenge clash against Collingwood in Bendigo and didn't play in the final game of the pre-season series.
Carrazzo said Gibbs had taken part in full training since his injury scare but Warnock would need to pass a fitness test to be considered.
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