FORWARD Kurt Tippett is almost certain to miss Adelaide's clash with the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Friday night after injuring his shoulder in the club's 39-point loss to West Coast on Saturday.

Tippett injured his left shoulder in a tackling attempt in the second quarter at AAMI Stadium, and was replaced by substitute player Brad Symes after half-time.

The one-time leading goalkicker had scans on Sunday and will see a specialist this week to determine the length of his stay on the sidelines.

The club is optimistic the injury isn't serious and won't require surgery.

Explosive midfielder/forward Patrick Dangerfield is expected to play against the Bulldogs, despite injuring his thumb against the Eagles.

Scans have cleared Dangerfield of a fracture in his thumb, but he had to wear a glove during a light skills session on Monday and will need to prove his fitness at training on Thursday.

The injury to Tippett means Adelaide will be without three of its four leading goalkickers of last season - Tippett, Taylor Walker (knee) and Jason Porplyzia (shoulder) - for its clash with the struggling Dogs.

A battered Dangerfield, who has kicked 17 goals this season, and young forward Jack Gunston are likely to headline the Crows' attack on Friday night, with utility Brad Moran, ruckman Ivan Maric and forward Ricky Henderson among the goalkicking options at SANFL level.

Adelaide has kicked 10 or fewer goals in its last three games, and defender Ben Rutten said his team would need an even spread of goalkickers to kick a winning score against the Bulldogs.

"The whole time I've been here at the footy club we haven't relied on one player to kick 80 or 90 goals in a year," Rutten said on Monday.

"Matty Wright kicked a couple of good goals on the weekend and we just need to keep getting contributors in that area.

"Some of Shaun McKernan's contests in the third quarter were really positive in terms of the way he was attacking the footy.

"It might be a good opportunity for him to stand up and take a bit more control of the forward line."

Rutten was one of Adelaide's better players in the loss to West Coast, limiting in-form forward Josh Kennedy to his lowest return (1.2) since round three.

The Eagles set up the win in the second quarter, kicking six unanswered goals to streak to a 44-point lead at half-time.

Adelaide closed to within 11 points early in the final term but couldn't sustain the fightback, falling away midway through the quarter.

Rutten said the Crows needed to improve their defensive pressure to prevent opposition teams from getting a run on against them.

"You tend to look at big things and big problems when sides get run-ons against you," he said.

"When you look at it more closely it's the little things we're probably not doing, like pressuring the ball enough, chasing and standing the mark.

"As a defender, it's unbelievable the difference it makes when the kicker doesn't have as much time to be able to lower his eyes and have that extra two or three seconds to make another decision or to give a forward time to make an extra lead.

"It's the little things that we're not doing well enough on a consistent basis, and it shows up big time."

Rookie Ian Callinan (bicep) got through his comeback game in the SANFL unscathed, but is unlikely to be considered for AFL selection for another fortnight.
 
Wingman David Mackay is expected to make his return for South Adelaide next week.

Utility Scott Stevens, who hasn't played since suffering a concussion at training in April, joined in the skills session on Monday but is yet to progress to running.

Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill