Crows coach Matthew Nicks never envisioned his Round One preparation would be like this.

Along with the nerves that come with a first game in charge - not to mention team selection - Nicks is dealing with frequently changing information and acclimatising his players to empty stadiums.

Nicks told AFC Media the COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything he’s seen before in his 20 years in professional sport.

“The uncertainty is the hardest part about it as things are changing on a daily basis,” Nicks said.

“But it's been a real positive the way everyone's stuck together, the way we're working through this as a group.

“I’m sure we’ll come out the other end.”

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Despite the uncertainty of the situation, Nicks does not believe the closed stadium is going to change the way he feels about coaching his first game.

His attention will be on motivating the players.

“We don't underestimate the support that we get on a game day from both our members and supporters – to have a stadium full of 50,000 people is a huge advantage,” Nicks said.

“So as a coach, I look at it and say, how will we as a group be able to motivate ourselves to get going in that empty stadium.

“It's going be an interesting feeling, but we’ve put a number of things in place and there's a number of things we'll look at on the game day to make sure that we're right to go.”

Nicks said it will be tough not to play in front of the fans on Saturday, but that he knows the support will still be there. 

“We’re going to miss having 50,000 fans screaming for us, but we know that your support is there with us and that you’ll be watching on TV,” he said.

“Stick with us – we really appreciate the support you give us.

“Our guys will be putting everything out that they can to come out with the right result.”