Forward Jason Porplyzia says the Crows must claim “a few scalps” before they can be considered genuine contenders in 2012. 

Adelaide has generated excitement following its unbeaten start to the year, which has included a NAB Cup Grand Final victory and wins over bottom-eight teams of last season, Gold Coast and the Western Bulldogs.

On Sunday, the Crows will face what’s being regarded as the toughest test of Brendon Sanderson’s coaching tenure to-date when they head to the MCG to play premiership fancies Hawthorn.

Porplyzia said his team was eager to test itself against the Hawks, who will be desperate to atone for their narrow loss to Geelong on Monday.

“It’ll be a good measure and we’ll make sure we get ourselves up for it,” Porplyzia said.

“We want to compete against the top-four sides and to not only compete but take a few scalps of top-four teams from last year.

“I’m always excited about where the team can head. We’ve been through a lot of change over the summer and last year. We’ve had a good start to the year but we’re not getting carried away.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do and if we keep the same attitude and keep wanting to improve, I see no reason why we can’t reach the pinnacle if not this year then in the coming years.”

Two games into his comeback from a serious shoulder injury, Porplyzia has added another dimension to the Crows forward line, which also includes dangerous goalkickers Kurt Tippett, Taylor Walker, Tom Lynch, Jared Petrenko and Ian Callinan.

Adelaide has averaged 35 scoring shots in its two games this season, with Walker (eight goals) ranked equal-first in the AFL goalkicking.

Porplyzia said tall forwards Walker and Tippett were part of a forward line determined to “share the load”.

“Kurt and Taylor are still only young guys … so their best footy is in front of them,” he said.

“They’ve been together two of three years now, so they’re getting that synergy and are providing really good targets for us.

“They are the talls up there and then we’ve got guys like Ian Callinan, Jared Petrenko and myself working in around them.”