ADELAIDE coach Brenton Sanderson admits he wasn't a big-game player.

More often than not, Sanderson said he would get too worked up for really important matches and his performance suffered.

But, in the lead up to his side's qualifying final against the Sydney Swans on Saturday, the coach said he wanted his players to voice any concerns they had about performing on the big stage.

"I didn't handle big games well and I've been honest with our playing group ... I let the big games get to me too much," Sanderson said.

"I've tried to help the ones that are feeling anxious with the expectations and what's important in these big matches is to talk about it, and that might be to me, it might be to a skipper, it might be to another coach.

"It's all about speaking to coaches, speaking to players and trying to understand what it takes to get the best out of individuals in these big games."

A win over the Swans would see the Crows skip next weekend's semi-finals and progress directly through to a home preliminary final.

While there's a lot riding on every game from here on in, Sanderson's advice to players struggling with the pressure of finals football was simple: don't try to be the hero.

"Sometimes young players in particular think they have to be best on ground for the team to win, but (the key) is really narrowing your focus to just playing your role," he said.

"What Scott Thompson's role is, is very different to what Daniel Talia's role is, so Thompson's best game on Saturday looks very different to what Daniel Talia's best game looks like on Saturday."

The rookie coach said the atmosphere of the finals affected each player differently, claiming some would relish the spotlight while others would try to go through their routine.

While he conceded it was an unknown which individual would rise to the occasion, Sanderson was adamant the team was prepared, saying Adelaide's brand of football was "made for September".

"Sydney certainly play the right way, they played finals-style football for the home and away season, so they're certainly ready to play well in September," Sanderson said.

"But I think we do that too.

"We play a a style that's made for September, whether we're good enough we'll have to wait and see, but we think we are."

Sanderson conceded the Crows had been intensely looking at the Swans over the previous two weeks with the expectation they would face off this weekend, but said it was too early to say who would get the all-important job on Adam Goodes.

The dual Brownlow Medalist booted five goals before injuring his quad in Adelaide's round six victory, but Sanderson was quick to point out the Swans were more than just one player.

"Adam Goodes is a great player … but he's one part of a really good Sydney Swans outfit," he said.

"They've got hardness inside, they've got speed outside, they've had some players who have had terrific seasons … at the same time they'd be looking at us thinking Sam Jacobs in the ruck, (Patrick) Dangerfield, (Scott) Thompson, (Rory) Sloane, (Nathan) van Berlo through the midfield.

"It should be a cracker."

Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry