Adelaide AFLW Senior Coach Matthew Clarke is confident in the depth of his defensive stocks, despite copping another injury to a key back.

Ahead of the Crows’ clash with Essendon on Saturday, defender Najwa Allen was ruled out for three to four weeks, after injuring her hamstring during last week’s win against Richmond.

Allen’s injury comes after fellow defender and three-time Premiership star Sarah Allan tore her hamstring during pre-season, and was set for at least another six weeks on the sidelines.

The Crows have opted to replace Allen with utility Lisa Whiteley for Saturday’s big clash against the Bombers.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Clarke said the side had young defenders who were ready to step up.

“Having injuries in the same area of the ground isn’t ideal but we do have a little bit of depth there,” Clarke said.

“It is a challenge for the young defensive group to be able to stand up without their key leader back there, but so far they’ve stood up pretty well,

“Zoe Prowse has taken another step forward with her footy this season and obviously Chelsea Biddell is an All Australian back there, after her last couple of years.

“We’ve got some depth there, but we’d obviously like to have them (Allen and Allan) back, no doubt.”

Clarke said Whiteley, who was set to play her first game for the Crows this season, would provide plenty of experience and had the versatility to play in defence or attack.

“When Lisa came to us it was as a defender and then more recently she’s played as a forward and played pretty well for us as a forward,” Clarke said.

“But we think her contest, her aerial (work) and the fact Naj has been playing as that third tall defender, that was probably the need for this week.

“We are really happy that Lisa gets an opportunity and she deserves an opportunity.”

The match will mark the first time Adelaide and Essendon face off for Premiership points and both sides are searching for a third, consecutive win.

Clarke was expecting a tough match and hoped to fill the stands with as many Crows fans as possible to help lift his side over the line.

“I was really happy with (our) first two matches but Essendon are in pretty good form as well, so it’s going to be a really good match-up,” Clarke said.

“We go back to Unley this week, we’ve always had really good support there, so hopefully we get a good crowd along.”

Adelaide plays Essendon at Unley Oval on Saturday at 2.35pm.

Tickets available here.