Interim Carlton coach John Barker's main concern ahead of his first game in charge of the Blues was managing the mindsets of his players so soon after the flashpoint of one of the most tumultuous years in the club's history.
Just days after Mick Malthouse was spectacularly sacked as senior coach, the bottom-placed Blues will face the huge task of tackling premiership fancies Sydney at the SCG without Chris Judd (knee), Bryce Gibbs (back) and Michael Jamison (calf), who are all out due to injury.
Barker was keeping expectations of his players on Friday night to a minimum and conceded each player would emotionally respond differently to Malthouse's sacking.
But after having the day off on Wednesday, he was confident that they were now "up for the challenge" - including Dale Thomas who arguably had the closest relationship with Malthouse of anyone on the list.
"Mick Malthouse is one of the great coaches of all time and he's had a very big impact on this place and on football in general (and) individuals," Barker said at Melbourne Airport on Thursday.
"So there's going to be differences in the way guys deal with that but we've got to do our best to keep them focused for tomorrow night and how we manage that is going to be obviously really important over the next 24 hours.
"Daisy (Thomas) obviously had a great relationship with Mick but what Daisy is he's a competitor and we know that tomorrow night when we get out there, he'll be giving it his all."
The 1-7 Blues have been virtually non-competitive in the last four weeks with embarrassing losses to Collingwood, Brisbane, GWS and Geelong helping to seal Malthouse's fate on Tuesday.
Focusing on improved effort levels and boosting morale are at the top of Barker's list of priorities as he embarks on the long road to turning the club's fortunes around.
"We know there's been some issues with our effort and we know it's one of the core components of footy so really just to drive some spirit and some energy back into the place ... that'll be the main message (to the players)," Barker said.
"We need to keep the messages simple, I know that. It's been a big week for the boys.
"We don't think things will turn around overnight. We're realistic about that and we know that the type of effort we're talking about we need to work at and that'll take time.
"In terms of game plan, that's going to change over time but in the right amount of time. But I'll say this, it doesn't matter what game plan you play with, if you don't bring a baseline of effort, it's null and void."
Barker will sit down with list manager Stephen Silvagni to review Carlton's list as the season unfolds but for the time being he is putting all his energy into an "exciting" opportunity to lead the Blues.
Given Malthouse was sent packing after Round 8, this will be the biggest dress rehearsal an interim coach has had since Allan Joyce took over from Terry Wheeler at Footscray in Round 3 of the 1994 season.
"It is exciting, it's a real opportunity," he said.
A key member of Barker's coaching panel will be Rob Wiley who, according to Barker, was never a chance of leaving the club along with Malthouse despite being a close friend of the triple premiership coach.
"I think Rob Wiley was the first person to walk up to me and say I've got his full support," Barker said.
"He's an amazing football person, an amazing man."
