ADELAIDE is confident superstar Andrew McLeod can cast his magic inside-50 this season, as the club prepares to go into round one without as many as three first-choice forwards.

Veteran Brett Burton (knee) and half-forward Chris Knights (foot) are unlikely to be fit for the Crows’ season-opener against Fremantle on March 28.

Leading goalkicker Jason Porplyzia (pelvis) is rated a better chance of making the trip to Perth, but his availability hinges on how his body copes with an increased workload over the next fortnight.

McLeod, 33, has earned All-Australian honours at both ends of the ground and through the midfield, but has played across half-back in the latter stages of his career.

The Crows first floated the idea of rotating McLeod and onballer Tyson Edwards through the forward as a means of giving Patrick Dangerfield and Andy Otten greater midfield roles.

With Otten likely to be out of action for the season due to a knee injury, McLeod’s switch to attack has become more necessity than tactical luxury.

However, forward line coach David Noble believes the move will still reap benefits given the veteran's form in attack.

“Andrew played half of his game against Collingwood last week in the front half and his defensive action, his tackling and his pressure around the ground-ball in those sort of conditions was just exceptional,” Noble told afl.com.au.

“I think you’d be more than happy to have him lining up forward for you against any opposition.”

Noble was also convinced he’d found capable replacements for some of the other holes in the club’s depleted forward line.

Goalsneak Richard Douglas and defender-turned-forward Jared Petrenko have both put their names in front of the selectors after solid pre-seasons.

“Richard and Jared are stamping their names on those [small forward] spots at the moment", Noble said.

"You’ve got Kurt Tippett, Taylor Walker, Trent Hentschel, Douglas and Petrenko with Andrew McLeod, so it’s still a pretty handy forward line.

Noble said Douglas's efforts have been particularly pleasing.

"We’ve always known he’s had excellent goal sense and, defensively, he’s always been pretty good. But he’s fitter so he can sustain those efforts that he needs to over a longer period for us.”

Clubs are allowed select a team of 26 players for games in the pre-season competition, but Adelaide and Melbourne will each name just 24 for Saturday’s clash at Elizabeth.

The Crows are expected to go in with a similar side to last weekend as the club tries to settle on a final 22 for round one.

Bernie Vince (hamstring), James Sellar (hand) and Ivan Maric (glute) have all been ruled out, but Noble said it was unlikely the club would rest any of its veterans despite the club's current injury list. .

"If we want to play Goodwin, Edwards and McLeod for a quarter we’ve still got enough on the bench to rotate and bring them off.”

Prized No.13 draft pick Daniel Talia and untried defender Will Young are both being considered to replace Sellar, who broke his hand in the loss to Collingwood.