Recruit Orazia Fantasia's impact at Carlton is being undersold as he prepares to play his former club Port Adelaide for the first time, Blues coach Michael Voss says.
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The injury-plagued Fantasia managed just 19 AFL games in three seasons at Port, a stint which followed 80 matches in seven years at Essendon.
Despite Fantasia's extensive list of soft-tissue leg injuries at his initial two clubs, Voss threw the goalsneak a lifeline when he was delisted by the Power at the end of last season.
The 28-year-old's statistical output in his nine games for the Blues is low - two goals and averaging just 7.6 disposals a match.
But Voss warns against judging Fantasia's importance at Carlton by pure numbers ahead of their clash against Port at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.
"It has been largely understated," Voss said.
"There has been a role that we've gone after and he's been able to do that.
"Even last week with some absentees of some individuals that have been able to play a certain role for us, he stepped into that - no questions asked.
"And that's all we ask everyone to do.
"We are a role-based team. We look at how we improve our system through our roles and then we have got to let the talent shine after that.
"And he's able to do that and I'm sure over a period of time he'll become a very valuable member of our team."
Voss had a simple message for Fantasia about dealing with the parochial Port crowd and any emotion of playing against his former teammates.
"Stay present and keep your eyes inside the white line," he said.
"He has got his mates around him, he has established himself within our team.
"He is a genuine favourite amongst the boys and has been a great teammate over the short period of time that we've had him.
"That's all part of everyone's individual stories about how we get here and that's part of Raz's story.
"But I know what he does buy into: he buys into the navy blue and the jumper and that's all we care about."
The eighth-placed Blues have named an unchanged team for the encounter with third-placed Port, who are a win ahead of Voss's charges on the ladder.
But the Power have made three changes with captain Connor Rozee sidelined by an ankle injury, forward Willie Rioli out due to a calf strain, and Jordon Sweet axed.
Ivan Soldo returns from a knee injury to replace Sweet in the ruck while Francis Evans and Charlie Dixon has been recalled after being rested last week.
Australian Associated Press
