Adelaide could be bolstered by the return of forward Josh Rachele as early as next week, as the 21-year-old continues to track ahead of schedule in his recovery from a rib injury.
The fourth-year Crow has missed the past two matches after fracturing three ribs in Adelaide’s Round Three win over North Melbourne.
Since then, Rachele had been working hard in his recovery, with the timeline for his recovery officially brought forward in the Club’s weekly injury report on Tuesday.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Adelaide Senior Coach Matthew Nicks said Rachele was tracking positively, but insisted a no-risk approach would be taken with his return,
“Josh will start his contact stuff early next week, he’s been doing a lot of work from a physical point of view to keep himself match fit, but we know you don’t get the same intensity and don’t hit bodies as part of the fitness training” Nicks said.
“He’s pretty confident he’s going to play next week, but one thing about that kind of injury is we won't know and he won’t know (if he can go) until he hits a bag first and foremost and then a body.
“We’d like to get him back as soon as we can, but at the same time we won’t push anything.”
Adelaide could, however, welcome back key defender Nick Murray for its clash against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday afternoon.
The Crows mentor said he would be included in the side if he got through Wednesday’s main training session.
“Nick Murray is putting his hand up (to play), he’s done a heap of work since going out to get himself right, and we are reasonably confident with where he’s at,” Nicks said.
“He’ll go out and train today, and if he can get through the session and feel confident and feel powerful with that knee, he’s one we would bring back into our side.
“He brings so much to our group, both with his ability to impact the game as well as being a leader in the group, so if he’s ready to go we’ll play him.”
Adelaide will enter the game against the Giants eager to return to the winners’ list, after a pair of close defeats to Gold Coast and Geelong.
Reflecting on the past fortnight, Nicks highlighted one aspect of the game the Crows had to rectify.
“It’s been a good week of education for us (since the Geelong game), we’ve spent that time looking at a couple of key areas we need to improve on,” he said.
“The one area that is really starting to flag itself across the first five games comes through with the points against.
“100-plus points against is not going to get it done for us and where we’re looking to go this season.
“Geelong having 119 points we’ll go back and have a look at where they came from, and our guys have got their heads around where they need to improve in that space.”
Adelaide will take on Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval, with the first bounce at 3.45pm (ACST).
