Carlton midfielder Bryce Gibbs is confident he is within sight of a new deal which will tie him to the Blues.

Gibbs, a former No.1 AFL draft pick, is part of the bluest of blue-riband midfields at Carlton – whose upward trajectory this season faces its sternest test against Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night.

And he says he has no plans to quit life alongside Chris Judd and Marc Murphy for riches elsewhere, hoping and believing a new deal is imminent.

“As far as I know, it’s coming along no worries so, hopefully, it can sort itself out in the next couple of weeks and (I) can put it to bed,” Gibbs said.

“I’m very happy with how everything is going with me and the club and where we’re headed.

“I’m not one to say ‘let’s put talks off until the end of the year’.

“It only just causes speculation and headaches and what not.

“The club is working with my management as we speak.

“When the right deal is finalised and both parties are happy, I’m sure I’ll sign.”

Gibbs is looking forward to using last year’s grand finalists Collingwood as a measuring stick for his upwardly-mobile Blues.

Carlton have started the season unbeaten in two games, and face a Magpies side who are 1-1 and keen to show they remain a force under new coach Nathan Buckley.

Gibbs said Carlton, who have beaten Richmond and Brisbane comfortably in their first two outings, would get an important gauge of their progress against the Magpies.

The Blues entered 2012 rated a top-four chance and premiership fancies, and their effortless win over the Lions last Thursday suggests they are the real deal.

“We haven’t beaten Collingwood for a few games now and that always sticks in your mind,” Gibbs said.

“It’ll be a great build-up and we’re not only looking forward to seeing where we’re at, but looking forward to playing against a genuine top-four side of the last five or six years and seeing how we go.”

The Blues could also be strengthened by defenders Michael Jamison and Nick Duigan, who are ready to return from injury.

That, says Gibbs, is vital to bolstering depth, competition for places and ensuring the Blues are at the level they need to be to tackle the Magpies.

“If we’re off by five or 10 per cent or we have a lapse in a quarter, it’s going to hurt us, so we’ve got to be ready,” Gibbs said.

Carlton and Collingwood’s match will be for the Richard Pratt Cup – a match played to aid prostate cancer research.

Billionaire and Carlton benefactor Pratt died of prostate cancer in 2009.