PERHAPS it’s a reflection of Adelaide's climbing temperatures, but star midfielder Richard Douglas says the fight for positions at West Lakes is already heating up.

Douglas told AFL.com.au the players were well aware of the need to rebound after an underwhelming 2013 season, with internal rather than external expectations driving them. The rise of several youngsters this season as well as the arrival of a few new recruits has meant the push for selection next year has started early.

And while Friday's expected maximum of 42 degrees suggests the City of Churches is in for a hellish summer, Douglas predicted there would be no place hotter than in the club's attack.

"The boys know that if we can have a really good pre-season, get everyone fit and healthy and start the season really well then we're going to be hard to beat this year.

"There's a lot of internal competition at the moment - blokes are well aware of how tight it's going to be come round one, so there's not too much need for extra motivation at training.

"With 'Pods' (James Podsiadly) and 'Bettsy' (Eddie Betts) coming in that's strengthened up our forward line, so you've got blokes like (Josh) Jenkins, Tex (Taylor Walker), (Shaun) McKernan - who are going to be fighting for spots.

"There's also 'Porps' (Jason Porplyzia), Matty Wright, (Jared) Petrenko as well. I think the forward line's going to be the hottest spot."

Douglas was one of only a few Crows players who enjoyed stellar personal seasons in 2013.

The 26-year-old posted numbers better than in his 2010 best-and-fairest season, averaging 23 disposals, five marks and nearly a goal a game.

He told AFL.com.au earlier in the year that his standout form was due to last year's fierce pre-season in which he concentrated on his ability to reach multiple contests after some tough love from the coaching group.

This summer Douglas plans to keep working on his repeated efforts, particularly given the impeding interchange cap, but he said he was still enjoying the fruits of last year's hard work.

"This year in particular I've found that, coming back, I picked up my fitness a lot quicker," he said.

"I find that with every pre-season I'm able to push myself a bit further and you understand your body a bit better.

"I'm still chipping away at being able to get to more contests - the game might become more aerobic so I've noticed this year we've been doing more longer running.

"Training has been harder this year than it was last year."

But as intense as the pressure for spots might already be, Dougas said the playing group was offered perspective late last month when assistant coach Dean Bailey was diagnosed with cancer.

Bailey is still on indefinite leave from the club as he fights the disease but has made the occasional appearance at training, to the delight of all present.

"I only had dinner with him two or three days before we found out that he had cancer and when 'Sando' (coach Brenton Sanderson) told the boys we were gutted - you could have heard a pin drop in the room," he said.

"We stress about footy from time to time but when something like that comes up it hits you.

"The boys just love him, they gravitate to him and he's just such a good character to have around the place.

"It wasn't long before he shared a joke with the group. It's a sad and tough time for him, but all the boys are there for him and we just need to support him."