HAVING secured a home qualifying final against the Sydney Swans with a 91-point hiding of Gold Coast, Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson said his side's season "starts now".
He said the Crows' minor-round success was irrelevant - it had only granted the side a golden opportunity to venture deep into finals territory.
"The [purpose of the] home and away season, purely is to put yourself in the best position to play well in September, so ... it's all about the next four weeks," Sanderson said.
"What we've been able to do is secure a double chance and a home final, so that's a tick, but forget about what's happened in the past - everything starts now by looking forward.
"Every team starts on zero wins, there's eight teams left, things get hot now."
Despite critics questioning Adelaide's authenticity as a premiership contender given its favourable draw leading into finals, Sanderson said his side was well prepared.
He said it didn't matter who the Crows played during the finals because the foundations for success had been laid nearly 12 months ago.
"We've got to ensure we're hard at the contest and that's how we’ve trained since the first training session in October last year, we've made sure our boys know how to win contests," he said.
"Ask the players - every game they play is really difficult. The hits are just as hard if you play Gold Coast as if you're playing Collingwood or Hawthorn or Sydney.
"We've got to get ourselves up mentally and physically every week for a certain opponent."
The Swans finished the minor rounds as the No.1 contested possession side in the League - just three more possessions than Adelaide - ensuring next week's final will be a brutal affair.
Sanderson said he was confident his team could prevail against the hardened Swans and said the Crows would benefit from the returns of Taylor Walker and Bernie Vince, who weren't risked in Saturday's game.
While loathe to single out individuals, Sanderson admitted Patrick Dangerfield's 36-possession game against the Suns could be enough to get him a Brownlow Medal if he's close enough heading into the last round.
Dangerfield was electric in the presence of fellow medal fancies Gary Ablett and Scott Thompson, booting two early goals to kick-start the Crows.
Sanderson he'd be excited late in the Brownlow count if either Dangerfield or Thompson were around the mark.
"I think Dangerfield's had a great season, so has Scotty Thompson ... (but) what about Matty Wright, Richard Douglas, (Sam) Jacobs' year in the ruck's just been sensational ... Rory Sloane, (Nathan) van Berlo.
"But having said that, you'd think Dangerfield and Thompson would get the three and two from the umpires today, so it's going to be an exciting night if they're two or three behind coming into that last round."
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry
