For Fremantle to come away with the points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, two important areas must be addressed.

Firstly, the Blues cannot be allowed an easy pathway from its back half into its forward line.

Their main avenue, number two in the AFL for rebound 50s in fact, is Andrew Walker.

He has had 83 rebound 50s this season, behind only Sydney’s Nick Malceski, who is well clear on 139.

However, despite the difference of 53, Walker’s rebounds have resulted in an AFL-leading 30 inside 50s for Carlton, whereas Malceski’s have gone into the attacking arc on 25 occasions.

Fremantle senior coach Ross Lyon pointed to his side’s renowned forward line pressure as the best remedy against the Blues’ rebound ace.

“No doubt Michael Walters, Hayden Ballantyne and Matt de Boer will all be responsible for handling him,” he said.

“I think he's a (draft) pick two in the competition, so that's extreme talent by any measure.

“He's a game-breaking, line-breaking yardage player, so we need to respect him. But we need to make him defend as well.”

At the other end of the field, Carlton’s speed and skill-laden small forward line cannot be allowed to play the game on their own terms.

Chris Yarran, Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett like to push up the field and then get between their opponents and the goals coming back the other way.

The Blues’ long-kicking style then allows the small forwards to run onto the ball with the big sticks in front of them. That’s when Mick Malthouse’s forward line is at its most damaging.

Lyon said the brief for his backline was simple – don’t allow your opponents to get goal-side.

“There's not too many tactics except our backs have got to have smart positioning,” he said.

The senior coach said pressuring the ball carrier was also of significant importance to help out Freo’s defenders because of Carlton’s penchant for quick ball-movement, which suits Saturday night’s venue.

“They're a really quick team, we see a lot of speed in them,” Lyon said.

“They've been thereabouts all year and their best has been as good as anyone's.

“At Etihad it's a quick surface, we like playing there but it is a big challenge and it's a really important game.

“Our brand is to compete fiercely, use it very well, and then when they've got it, get it back off them as quickly as they can.”