The contrast in conditions between Adelaide’s Round Nine win over the Western Bulldogs to Sunday’s clash with Melbourne at TIO Traeger Park could not be grander. 

The Crows played in torrential rain last Friday night, with coach Don Pyke and his assistants tinkering their game plan to great effect to claim four hard-earned premiership points.

This weekend, Adelaide will play their first afternoon game of the season with temperatures in Alice Springs forecast to reach the high-twenties at the time of opening bounce.

Despite the disparity in playing environments, Pyke said teams “just have to adapt” and be prepared to tackle what’s in front of them.

“That’s just part of the AFL,” Pyke told reporters at Adelaide Airport on Saturday morning.

“Last week was one out of the box in some respects, I don’t think we’ve experienced those sort of conditions while I’ve been here.

“We’ll just adapt to the situation and play accordingly.

“We’ll get a chance to get up there today and assess the conditions.

“Obviously Alice Springs the forecast is going to be pretty warm, so we’ll just have a look around the ground, get a feel for it and get ready to play.” 

With both Melbourne and Adelaide currently sitting inside the top four on the AFL ladder, the game is being built up by many as the match of the round.

Both sides are renowned for their ferocity around the stoppages, and Pyke is expecting no different come Sunday when the two engine rooms go head-to-head.

“From where they’re sitting on the ladder it’s third versus fourth,” he said.

“It’s another great challenge for us and a great opportunity against a side that pride themselves around the contest which is where we want to be really strong.

“It sets up really well for a good opportunity for us to work hard and get four points.”

While much has been made of former Crow Jake Lever facing his old side for the first time since his off-season exit, it wasn’t a focal point as far as Pyke was concerned. 

“To be honest with you, he’s a guy that was at our footy club,” he said.

“He’s now left, he’s playing at another club, we move on.

“We’re playing Melbourne tomorrow, we’re not playing him.”