He stopped short of labeling it a ‘mini final’, but Don Pyke says the Crows understand the significance of Friday night’s clash with West Coast.
The Crows are playing with great confidence having won 12 of their past 13 games, but are coming off two successive six-day breaks and a brutal 15-point Showdown win against Port Adelaide.
But West Coast has also discovered strong late-season form. The Eagles downed reigning premiers Hawthorn last weekend and also bundled Greater Western Sydney out of the top four the week prior.
A win could secure a top-two finish for the Crows, while victory for West Coast could see the Eagles soar into the top four.
Pyke acknowledged the importance of the clash, but said the Crows couldn't afford to look too far ahead.
“There's a prize on the line tomorrow night," Pyke said on Thursday.
“We understand the significance of the game tomorrow night, and the players understand that.
“Both clubs have got a fair bit to play for. We’re getting towards that pointy end of the season where not only wins and losses but also how you’re playing and how you perform is going to give you the confidence going into the next phase.
"If we get caught looking over the horizon it's really dangerous.
"We've got a process to follow and the way we play, we can compete with anyone in the competition. The result will be a by-product of the way we go about it.”
Not only have the Eagles have found form in recent times, they’ve also recaptured their winning ways on the road. West Coast has won just three of their four games interstate since falling to Adelaide at Domain Stadium in Round 12.
Pyke knows his former club will be raring to go once again come Friday night.
“Their recent form’s fantastic,” Pyke said.
“They’ve lost one game since we last played them.
“They’re a really strong footy team and they’ve got some quality players, and they’ll be coming here with the same intent that we have.
“It sets up for a really good clash.”
Adelaide will be without suspended star Rory Sloane while rebounding defender Brodie Smith is also considered unlikely to play as he recovers from a concussion.
Winger Paul Seedsman will miss a third straight game with a corked buttock, but Pyke expects him to be available for the first week of the finals.
The Eagles have their own issues having lost ruckman Nic Naitanui for the season with a torn ACL.
"They're going to have to adjust without Nic," Pyke said.
“As has been flagged, they've got a few options there.
"We had a look at who they used and how they structured the team around that.
“We’ve always pushed really strongly that we’re not going to ride the coattails of one or two players. That’s not how we operate.
“Depending on how we finalise the team, opportunities will exist for other guys and the beauty is we’ve got guys in really good form.”
