Left-footers Sam Shaw and Rory Atkins will play their first games of the year on Saturday with Adelaide’s SANFL team at Elizabeth Oval.
Shaw, 24, underwent complex surgery in September last year to repair a reccurring hamstring injury.
The luckless defender hasn’t played at any level since Adelaide’s loss to Richmond in Round 21 last season and has been restricted to just 22 AFL games since joining the Club at the end of 2009.
Atkins has also watched from the sidelines so far this season after suffering a pre-season knee injury in February.
Rated as one of the best kicks at the Club, the 20-year-old will start on a wing for Saturday’s clash with Central District.
Key defender Kyle Hartigan will strengthen Adelaide’s backline in his return from a one-week suspension.
Dynamic forward Mitch McGovern has been given the all clear to play after sitting out of the SANFL Showdown in Balaklava with Achilles soreness.
Brock Castree is a chance to line up against his former club, while 199cm forward Nick Mott has also been added to Adelaide’s extended interchange.
Sam Kerridge (ankle), Sam Siggins (glute) and development player Jake Sutcliffe (hamstring) were all unavailable for selection due to injury.
Luke Lowden has reported Achilles soreness but has also battled an illness which has prevented him from pushing for selection.
Hartigan, Harrison Wigg, and Reilly O'Brien remain on standby for the Club’s AFL Indigenous Round clash with League leaders Fremantle.
Brodie Martin was promoted to the senior side on Friday morning to replace Ricky Henderson.
Adelaide notched its first-ever SANFL win against the Bulldogs 13 months ago and is still chasing its maiden victory of the 2015 season.
Crows ticketed members receive free access to the match, which kicks off at 2.10pm at Elizabeth Oval. Radio station Life FM will also broadcast the game live.
The SANFL is celebrating the growing involvement of women in football with its first Women’s Round this weekend.
West Adelaide welcomes South Adelaide to Richmond Oval to kick off Round Eight on Friday night.
Top side Norwood travel to Prospect to confront North Adelaide on Saturday, before a Sunday SANFL double-header sees the Eagles and Sturt collide and Port Adelaide and Glenelg battle at Alberton Oval.
Adelaide’s SANFL team is:
B: Sam Shaw (34), Kyle Hartigan (15), Luke Carey (59)
HB: Harrison Wigg (35), James Podsiadly (1), Sam Pfeiffer (61)
C: Riley Knight (39), Charlie Molyneux (56), Rory Atkins (21)
HF: Matthew Spencely (50), Keenan Ramsey (46), Mitch McGovern (41)
F: Nick Mott (58), Jack Osborn (30), Anthony Wilson (42)
FOL: Reilly O’Brien (43), Brodie Martin (36)*, Ian Callinan (37)
INT (from): Dylan Schoenmakers (55), Matthew Johncock (60), Brock Castree (54), Josh Wittwer (48), Dale Armstrong (57)
IN: Shaw, Hartigan, Atkins, McGovern, Mott, Castree
Out: Kerridge (ankle), Sutcliffe (hamstring), Lowden (Achilles/illness), Siggins (glute)
*Brodie Martin to replace Ricky Henderson in the AFL team. SANFL replacement TBC.
