Adelaide has made three changes for Thursday night’s Qualifying Final against Greater Western Sydney.
Leaders Taylor Walker (toe) and Daniel Talia (ankle) return from injury, while promising midfielder Hugh Greenwood has been recalled after missing the Round 23 clash with West Coast.
Crows vice-captain Rory Sloane (appendix) has been ruled out of the game.
Defender Alex Keath and second-year onballer Wayne Milera Junior have been omitted.
An inclusion against the Eagles, wingman Paul Seedsman has retained his spot for the first final.
Milera, swingman Andy Otten and veteran Scott Thompson are the emergencies.
Coach Don Pyke said his team could overcome the loss of Sloane, who’s played every game this year.
“We’ve said throughout the season, we’re not a side that’s going to rely on one individual,” he said.
“We’re very confident in the guys we’ve got who have come in and are in some good form.”
Pyke confirmed ruckman Sam Jacobs would take his place in the team on Thursday night.
Jacobs is grieving the loss of older brother Aaron, who passed away from illness last week.
“I’ve been speaking to Sam on a fairly regular basis around how he’s travelling,” Pyke said.
“He’s going to play and is in a really good space to be able to do that.
“It’s a tragic set of events that he’s dealing with – he and his family – but he made a pretty early decision that he was keen to play. He’s worked himself into a mind frame whereby he’s not only ready to play, but to perform. Knowing Sam, it gives him a little extra incentive for tomorrow night.
“I’m certain the guys, as they have, will get around him and support him.”
Just over 1,000 tickets remain for Thursday night’s game, which starts at 7:20pm (ACST). Gates open at 5:15pm. Purchase tickets here
It will be the first time Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney meet in a final.
The Giants are yet to beat the Crows at Adelaide Oval.
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Possible showers are forecast for Adelaide on Thursday.
Pyke said the style of the game would be the same regardless of the conditions.
“It’s going to be a contested game. That’s what we’ve prepared for and that’s what we’ve been working towards,” he said.
“We expect a fired up GWS. And we expect to come out and play (our way).
“If the conditions are a bit slippery and wet, it’s just going to add to that. The premium on (clean) ball take and field position will be high.”
Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney haven’t played since Round One when the Crows prevailed at home by 56 points.
“It’s 20-odd weeks ago, so it’s probably hard to draw that as a form line and both teams have changed a fair bit over that time – both in personnel and in style,” Pyke said.
Entering his second finals series as Crows coach, Pyke described September as a “whole new ball game.”
“This is why we do what we do. If we’re running laps at West Lakes in November and doing time trials and other things, it’s all based around getting to this point,” he said.
“For individuals and teams it’s about now. This month is what creates great players – great teams come out of this month.
“We get the opportunity to find out exactly how much improvement we’ve made. That starts Thursday night.”
Crows and GWS players who don’t line-up on Thursday night could play in a trial game at Football Park on Friday morning. Fans are invited to watch the match, which starts at 10:30am (ACST).
The team is:
IN – Taylor Walker, Daniel Talia, Hugh Greenwood
OUT – Rory Sloane (appendix), Alex Keath (omitted), Wayne Milera Junior (omitted)
