Mitch Robinson has lived it and now he's warning Brisbane to beware the wounded Blues ahead of Saturday's game at Marvel Stadium.

Carlton has endured a wretched season to date, two games adrift at the bottom of the ladder and coach Brendon Bolton under intense pressure to retain his job. 

But Robinson says the fifth-placed Lions have to keep their eyes on the prize, in this case four premiership points and a step closer to playing in September.

"I've been in similar situations with the coach under pressure, obviously ‘Leppa’ here and Brett Ratten when I was at Carlton as well," Robinson said.

"They're going through a tough time, but they're a united group.

"I know a few of the players there and they're still playing for their coach.

"When you start taking teams lightly is when they get a jump on you."

Robinson praised his former club for their largely competitive season, reminding everyone of the Blues recently pushing premiership fancies Collingwood deep into the fourth quarter before losing.

"If we start worrying about results, we won't get them, so we'll worry about the process.

"We're legitimately taking it one week at a time and if we look at anything past Carlton, it'd be stupid by us.

"We're keeping a lid on it, we know there's a lot of improvements in our team."

Robinson, who played 100 games for the Blues before being sacked at the end of 2014, is having a terrific season, averaging 21 disposals and kicking 10 goals.

He said playing Carlton didn't quite provide the motivation it once did. 

"It's my fifth year at the Lions so that little chip on my shoulder is wearing off a little bit.

"I'll still play as if I owe them one, that's the way I play most games.

"It's more about this team I'm in now, not my old club."