Adelaide forward Taylor Walker believes Rory Sloane will be “like a cat on a hot tin roof” once he returns.

The Crows skipper was ruled out for up to six weeks on Monday after scans confirmed he had fractured his hand falling from a marking contest against West Coast.

Sloane has battled a string of niggling problems this season but has still managed to play in every match.

“It’s disappointing for Sloaney, the poor fella,” Walker told Triple M’s Dead Set Legends on Tuesday.

“He’s been bashed from pillar to post the last month and now he’ll have a month off.

“Imagine what he’ll be like the next month (though), like a cat on a hot tin roof that fella.”

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Walker did not know who would captain the Crows in Sloane’s absence.

“Tom Lynch would be the front runner, or Brodie Smith,” Walker said.

“One of the leadership group, they’ll sort that out.”

Despite being another senior player down, Walker was confident Adelaide’s young contingent could step up to the plate.

“The young lads have been really good,” Walker said.

“It’s a good step in the right direction for us as a footy club.

“It takes 22 players to get it done, and that’s probably where we’ve been struggling.

“The challenge is to be able to adapt and sustain it throughout the game.”