Adelaide is almost certain Rory Sloane will return immediately after the bye from a foot injury, but coach Don Pyke warns expectations shouldn't be too high about the star onballer's output immediately upon returning.
Sloane, 28, last played in the Crows' round four loss to Collingwood, but after joining in much of Thursday's training session, Pyke expected the dual best and fairest to be fit to face West Coast at Adelaide Oval in round 15.
"At this stage, we're really positive that he will be (fit). I don't want to necessarily commit because I've had a few problems when I've said 'I think he will be right' if he's not," Pyke told reporters on Friday.
"At this stage, the indications are that he will be right."
However, Pyke believes Sloane will need time to work back into form.
"The magnets will look good when they're actually back and available but the reality is for say
"The expectations are, everybody would have a picture in their head of Rory at his very best but the reality is coming back, having not played for that long, it'll take him a bit of a while to get going."
Meanwhile, backmen Rory Laird (broken hand) and Luke Brown (ankle sprain), along with
"It was tight but they were just a reach too far, to be honest. The positive is with Laird, Lynch, Brown, Sloane, we'd expect to get back, or be available after the break," Pyke said.
More pressing for Pyke is Saturday night's meeting with Hawthorn. The Crows have lost three straight games and are in 10th spot, needing to revive their faltering season.
"The disappointing part is in three of those losses (since round eight), we've been in front in the last quarter, so we're not far away," Pyke said.
"I know the external rhetoric around our performances is a bit of doom and gloom but we sit at 6-6, could easily be at 8-4 with some other little opportunities that didn't go our way."
The coach doesn't see much needing to change.
"It's only a matter of 10 or 15 minutes here or there and we can get a result," Pyke said.
