The clock is ticking and Carlton’s premiership window is approaching, according to coach Mick Malthouse.

However Malthouse concedes the Blues, sixth last season in his first year at the helm, are not quite an AFL top-four side just yet.

A premiership coach twice at West Coast and once at Collingwood, Malthouse has included ex-Magpies’ midfield star Dale Thomas and former Swan Andrejs Everitt in his side for Sunday night’s round-one clash with Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.

Last year’s grand finalists Hawthorn and Fremantle, plus Sydney and Geelong, are the top four premiership contenders in betting markets.

“The top four have got every right to think it’s between 11 and one,” Malthouse said on Saturday.

“The rest of us … I would say we’re approaching 11 o’clock. There’s a lot of sides approaching 11 o’clock.

“We want to be progressing through 11 o’clock into it (a premiership window).

“I don’t see any reason why that can’t be the case.

“We’ve got a very good blend of senior players and we’ve got a good blend in the middle.

“When you introduce to the football club Dale Thomas and Andrejs Everitt and Sam Docherty, all young from other clubs, and our three kids who we drafted, it gives you an illustration that our blend of players is quite good.”

Carlton are without former club champions Chris Judd (Achilles) and Andrew Carrazzo (calf), but Malthouse is confident skipper Marc Murphy and Thomas can give the Blues a midfield advantage.

“Marc Murphy not only was going into a pre-season with a knee complaint and then he broke his cheekbone, he also had the burden of being a first-year captain,” Malthouse said.

“He is far better prepared.”

Murphy finished outside the top 10 of Carlton’s best and fairest in 2013, for the first time since 2007.

“Dale Thomas is clearly ahead of what he was last year because of his foot problem (in 2013),” Malthouse added.

“We see two players who can have a real impact in the middle.”

Port coach Ken Hinkley has handed league debuts to teenagers Jarman Impey and Tom Clurey. Last year’s semi-finalists have also named ex-Lion Jared Polec and former Tiger Matt White.

Malthouse drew a comparison between his side and Port, who finished fifth after upsetting Collingwood in last year’s elimination final.

“Both finished off with a one-one result in finals last year so clearly we’ve earnt the right to be considered a good football side, as have they,” he said.

“All I can say about us is we’re hungry for us to get out there and play our best footy.”