COACH Brenton Sanderson says Shaun McKernan's report for striking Eagle Brad Sheppard leaves the Crows "in the lap of the gods" ahead of a do-or-die run of games. 

Adelaide travels to play Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night with Sanderson accepting his side's finals chances are already slim at best after Saturday night's six-point defeat to West Coast.

Key forward McKernan played one of his best games against the Eagles, but is likely to miss several weeks after being reported for striking Sheppard with a raised elbow late in the first quarter.

"I'm disappointed with what happened because I thought he played a really good game," Sanderson said.

"He was marking the ball when other guys weren't and he would have been handy for us [next week].

"We're in the lap of the gods a little bit, but we'll just have to see what the result is on that one."