EVEN if Kurt Tippett decides to abandon Adelaide, he will play finals football if he is fit and his teammates support him, Crows coach Brenton Sanderson says.

Under former coach Neil Craig, in-season defectors Nathan Bock and Phil Davis were told to immediately clean out their lockers when they decided to switch clubs, but Sanderson said Tippett wouldn't be subjected to the same treatment.

He said in order to win in September, the Crows had to field their best side and Tippett was a part of that.

"Finals are obviously cut-throat and we want to pick our best team, from a selfish point of view we want to win and you've got to put your best 22 out there," Sanderson said.

"If it's not a distraction for the team then we'll certainly pick him.

"We've won games without him, but at the same time he's in our best 22 and he really helps our forward structure."

Tippett's future becomes more uncertain with every passing week, as speculation mounts he is headed to the Brisbane Lions or Gold Coast during trade week.

Crows champion Mark Ricciuto reported this week that there was a "90 per cent chance" of Tippett leaving the Crows and that he recently broke up with his Adelaide-based girlfriend after talking his future over with family in Queensland.

Sanderson admitted he was getting anxious about Tippett's decision and that the forward ought to let the club know as soon as he had made up his mind.

However, the rookie coach remained confident Tippett would stay put.

"The longer it draws out in the season you get more nervous as a coach," he said.

"If he wants to leave he should tell us and then we can get on with trying to find replacements.

"We've got a group of young guys here that want to be part of a really bright future for the footy club and we've seen some great signings for us already this year.

"If Kurt decides to stay it makes us stronger, if he decides to go at the season's end then we'll make adjustments to our squad and we'll get on with business."

On the eve of what looms as the club's most promising finals campaign since 2006, Sanderson said Tippett's indecision hadn't become a distraction at West Lakes.

But as external speculation continues to build, he conceded it had the potential to become one at the worst possible time.

"Maybe, yeah, [the longer it goes in the season]," Sanderson said.

"If there's the speculation externally, depends how much players absorb external comments and distractions, but at the moment it's not."

While he was confident Tippett would play last week, Sanderson said he was again expecting Tippett to return to the side to face the Brisbane Lions this weekend at the Gabba.

The game was crucial, Sanderson said, for Adelaide's top two prospects.

"Brisbane's a really important game for us this week, we've got to go up there and play our way and win just to keep that top two chance alive," he said.

"Their good is good ... if we go up there with fat heads looking for a holiday they're going to really embarrass us."

Harry Thring covers Adelaide news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.