New assistant coach David Teague says Adelaide is yet to settle on the make-up of its forward line, adding that spots will be up for grabs in the NAB Challenge.

The Crows will kick off their pre-season campaign against North Melbourne in Port Lincoln on Sunday, March 1, at 4:10pm (CDT). Teague, who was recruited to the Club by senior coach Phil Walsh in October, will take the reins of Adelaide’s attack for the first time at Centenary Oval.

The former Carlton and North Melbourne player said there was still some “unknown” about how the Crows forward line would shape up in Round One of the Premiership Season, also against the Kangaroos at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, April 5.

“Which is our best six is something I’m toing and froing with. I’m not sure yet,” Teague said.

“I’d like to get them all doing a fair bit of training together, but until I know who they are it’s hard because you have to give everyone an opportunity to work together and see which six really gel.”

Last season, Adelaide regularly fielded three tall forwards in Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and James Podsiadly. Teague said the Club needed to find the balance of marking targets and speed at ground level to facilitate the whole-team defence.

“We know we want to have three marking targets in the front half, but whether that’s two talls and a Tom Lynch-type or three talls and a Lynch, is still up for debate. We have a few options there,” he said.

“We also need speed and pressure in the forward line to lock the ball in. In my time at West Coast, Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy were two of the best at applying pressure.

“You can play six (tall) forwards like that if they all put the pressure on … it’s your marking power versus your ability to put pressure on.”

Read our Q&A with David Teague in full

The Crows ranked third in points for last year, but 11^th in scores against.

Walsh has already revealed that team defence has been a major focus of the pre-season.

Teague said the forward line was no exception.

“We’d love to keep that scoring power (of last season), but team defence is a major focus for us and the forwards are often the first line of that team defence. We’ve spent a lot of time on that,” he said.

“Our aim will be to lock the ball in our forward half and create scoring opportunities. We’re working on being able to play as one team. Each individual has a certain responsibility in that. At the moment, it’s about learning a new style of defence and also offence because both have probably changed slightly. Having said that, we don’t want to tinker too much with the offence because the boys are naturally quite offensive.

“If we can be third in points for again this year and improve our defence, we’ll be in a good position to play finals.”

Two forwards who set the standard for defensive pressure are Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron.

Betts ranked third in the AFL in forward 50m tackles last year, while Cameron added spark in attack in seven appearances before a groin injury derailed his promising debut season. The pair is back in full training, along with Podsiadly, after being on modified programs pre-Christmas.

Two new Crows have also captured Teague’s attention.

Rookie-listed pair Reilly O’Brien and Keenan Ramsey have adapted well to the training load.

“A couple of young guys have bobbed up,” Teague said.

“Reilly O’Brien is probably a ruckman/forward but he’s been marking the ball really well. Keenan Ramsey is another one. He’s been out on the track the most (of the draftees) and showed some really good signs. He moves quite well, kicks the ball well and is a good mark.”

Teague was excited about the forward talent at his disposal, saying continuity would be a major factor in the group’s development.

“Our forwards haven’t been out there too much together as a full group. ‘Tex’ missed the start of last year with his knee; it was Eddie’s first year at the Club and ‘Lynchy’ missed a fair bit of game time. Charlie Cameron was also a new player pushing for a spot in that forward line,” he said.

“Ideally, we’d love to get them all fit and up and going, along with Josh Jenkins. Then we can get some unity and understanding of what each other is doing.

“Sometimes that doesn’t mean saying much, but just knowing the way your teammates move and what they’re going to do when they get the ball.”