JOSH Jenkins hopes the bond formed through hardship with fellow Adelaide key forward Taylor Walker will ultimately mean trouble for opposition sides in 2014.

Walker and Jenkins have both missed a large part of this year, with Walker recovering from a knee reconstruction and Jenkins from a broken ankle. Walker ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in his right knee in round five, leaving Jenkins as the Crows' no. 1 key forward for a couple of months.

Speaking to AFL.com.au, the 24-year-old former Bomber said he was amongst the first of his teammates to comfort Walker post injury.

When Jenkins was taken to hospital with a broken ankle sustained against Fremantle in round 17, it was Walker's turn to comfort him.

"We're really good mates, we sort of have a love/hate relationship – we get stuck into each other a lot but also help each other out," Jenkins said.

"When Tex was first injured, a lot of guys went around to see him but I tried to make a point to get straight there to see how he was going and he did the same for me.

"When he went through his knee reconstruction and couldn't get around too well I used to drive him and now it's been his turn to pay me back and drive me around."

Walker fed his mate hints and tips while Jenkins acted as the Crows’ main key forward in the 12 weeks between their injuries.

Jenkins believes the connection that has developed between the pair this year will spell trouble for opposition defences once they are both back up and running.

"We won't reap the rewards or feel as good until we start to achieve things on the field because at the moment we haven't done much as a pairing," he said.

"We're both just looking forward to getting back on the training track together.

"Once we start to put some runs on the board and start to combine and form a good partnership for the team we'll look back and think all the hard work was worthwhile.

"I feel like we can do some good things next year."

Walker is a third of the way through his 12-month rehabilitation program and this week started running for the first time since his injury.

Jenkins underwent surgery on his ankle a month ago and has been out of plaster for a fortnight.

While his moonboot still doesn't allow him a great deal of maneuverability, it has freed him from the monotony of upper body exercises like seated boxing.

He's managed to spend time on the exercise bike and, like Walker, began using Adelaide's anti-gravity treadmill this week. Jenkins carried just 30 per cent of his body weight at the start of this week, but has already progressed to 50 per cent.

In another few weeks, he said he expected to be walking freely before working his way towards running early in the 2014 pre-season.