ADELAIDE caretaker Mark Bickley says he hasn’t ruled out staying at the club if he is overlooked for the permanent coaching position.

Bickley - who was appointed interim coach following the resignation of long-serving mentor Neil Craig in July - is yet to put his hand up for the vacant coaching position, vowing to wait until the end of the season to make a decision.

The two-time premiership captain and AFL Hall of Fame member doesn't have a contract for next year, but said he would consider remaining at West Lakes if he was overlooked for the senior role.

"I haven't thought a great deal about it, but I guess the two options are you stay or you go," Bickley said on Friday.

"Maybe I'd do the same as Brenton Sanderson at Geelong [who was overlooked in favour of Chris Scott, but stayed with the Cats].

"You could do that, or you might look elsewhere."

After Adelaide's loss to Richmond last weekend, Bickley hinted he would apply for the top job, saying he hadn't experienced anything during his time in charge to indicate he "wasn't ready" to assume the role.

The former midfield and forward line coach said he expected to make a decision either way early next week.

"I haven't really allowed myself to think about what's going to happen after the game this week," he said.

"It comes down to [whether you] believe that you can make a really strong and positive impact on the club, and be able to take it to where it wants to go.

"You need to give it a lot of thought and you need to go into all the things that need to be ticked off in terms of criteria to make sure you're a suitable applicant.

"I have some thoughts in my head [about the vision for the club] … that's something I would need to be able to articulate if and when I apply."

The Crows have made four changes for their last game of the season against West Coast at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.

Michael Doughty, Ricky Henderson, Richard Tambling and mature-age rookie Ian Callinan have been called up to replace injured trio Andy Otten (concussion), Jack Gunston (shoulder), Brodie Martin (groin) and Aidan Riley, who has been omitted.

Doughty, who is also out of contract at the end of the season, is yet to declare whether he wants to play on next year.

Bickley backed the 32-year-old to continue his career for a 13th season, but said the final decision would be left up to the new coach.

"It's not really my position to say, 'yes' or 'no' with Michael … but I guess we saw a little bit last week of our backline without him," Bickley said.

"It was really inexperienced and at some stages we were exposed.

"From my perspective, Michael is a very valued member not only as a footballer, but with the leadership he provides.

"I'd be comfortable having him on the list again next year."

The Crows ended a five-year hoodoo against the Eagles at Patersons Stadium in round 15 last season, surviving a third-quarter scare to run out 22-point victors.

Unlike fellow finalists Hawthorn, which has rested eight players, West Coast has named a near full-strength team to play against Adelaide, with Daniel Kerr, Will Schofield and Matt Rosa the only first-choice players missing.

The Crows have beaten bottom-four teams Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and the Brisbane Lions since Bickley took over in round 19, and the caretaker coach said it was important for the club to test itself against a top-four team.

"I think West Coast has won six games in a row and they want to keep that momentum going into the finals series," he said.

"They've actually destroyed teams over there in Perth, so we need to make sure our attitude is right on the money."

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