Adelaide coach Neil Craig said on Friday the Crows would not be taking a 23rd player to Melbourne, and Stevens, recalled to a squad of 25, would 'stay in the side' after some fine form with Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL, and Matthew Bode (heavy head knock last week) would be tested at training on Saturday morning.
Craig said the inclusion of Stevens was a 'height issue' because of the Roos' tall forwards.
"It was either that or move Kenny McGregor out of the forward line, which we didn't want to do at this stage," he said. "We're happy for Ken to play up there.
"So it gives an opportunity for Scott, whose form in the SANFL the last two weeks has been very good, even though he hasn't necessarily been playing in defence where we're probably looking at playing him. But we know he can also play up forward.
"So we've got that flexibility of (switching) McGregor/Stevens … plus it gives Scott an opportunity. He's been at our footy club now for a few years. We need to find out (about him)."
Stevens, 24, originally from Perth, has played 39 AFL matches - 25 for Sydney in 2002-03 and 14 for Adelaide, including 13 in 2004, none last season (when he had hand, shoulder and foot injuries) and one this season when he had limited game time as a forward against West Coast in round two.
"Scotty wasn't disastrous (last time)," Craig said. "In the end, Scotty's no different from a lot of players at other clubs. They're fighting for their regular positions. He understands that clearly.
"What he gets at the moment is an opportunity to play and hopefully it will go Scotty's way. If it doesn't, I know what Scotty will do - he'll continue to work hard and get another opportunity the week after, or, if it doesn't fall that way, he'll go back and work harder with the Port Magpies
"He's under no illusions it's just going to happen for him. So it's a good challenge for him and also his teammates around him."
Craig reeled off the names of the Roos' tall forwards - '(Nathan) Thompson, (Drew) Petrie, (David) Hale, (Hamish) McIntosh, possibly (Saverio) Rocca' - and added: "Their contested-ball area all over the ground is very good, very good. They pride themselves on that. So that will be a good challenge for us to meet them in that area."
Asked how the Crows had changed since they beat the Roos by 13 points in round 17 last season, Craig said: "We've got better as a team with some of the things we're doing.
"The Kangaroos have got some slightly different personnel, but, clearly, if you look at their form last week - Thompson poses a huge issue for us, you've got some of their senior players in (Shannon) Grant and (Brent) Harvey back to form, (Glenn) Archer and so forth, plus (Daniel) Wells. I mean, it's quite daunting, isn't it?"
When it was put to Craig that the Roos were 'under-rated', he said: "They're not under-rated by us. We've always had really close games and we appreciate how well the Kangaroos can play and the determination they have. We know exactly what we're in for."
Craig said he expected Telstra Dome's roof to be open because it was a day match.
"That's the indication we've got, unless there's been a change in the weather," he said. "But let's say it's closed. It's just a great environment to play footy, so I wouldn't see that as an advantage or a disadvantage."
