ADELAIDE vice-captain Scott Thompson has no doubt: Geelong remain the benchmark of the AFL.

But Thompson believes Geelong's audacious playing style gives the struggling Crows a winning chance in Sunday's clash at AAMI Stadium.

"They definitely like to take the game on; they back in their game style; they have got great confidence within their group with what each player is capable of doing," Thompson told reporters on Saturday.

"And they flirt with the ball at times - hopefully our pressure is good enough to turn it over and get it going our way."

The 12th-placed Crows are at long odds to make the finals, being three wins outside the top eight with seven games remaining.

"It is a little bit disappointing because we did have high expectations," Thompson said.

"But we have got seven weeks now ... whatever happens, the next seven weeks for the club and the team and for the confidence of the group, it's really important.

"If we get to a point where we're no chance of playing finals, we still play to win.

"There is a lot to gain for the next seven weeks ... we have got a lot to gain this season as a side."

The Crows lost star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield to a shoulder injury while dropping Matthew Jaensch, with Richard Tambling recalled and Mitch Grigg given his AFL debut.

Geelong summoned premiership trio Joel Corey, Corey Enright and Mathew Stokes to replace the suspended Steve Johnson, while omitting youngsters Jesse Stringer and George Horlin-Smith.

The match will be Thompson's 200th game for the Crows, a milestone which the dual club champion said wasn't at the forefront of his mind.

"I haven't thought about it too much - it's nice to be able to look back and think that I have played 200 games for the one club but I will probably think about it more when I hang the boots up," he said.