ADELAIDE comeback kid Trent Hentschel is confident he has kept up with the speed of the modern game, despite spending the past two years on the sidelines.

Hentschel, 26, made his return from a potentially career-ending knee injury with an encouraging display against Geelong on Saturday night.

The half-forward finished with five touches, three tackles, one mark and one goal, but the Crows’ coaches weren’t judging his return on statistics.

There had been genuine concerns the horrific injury would rob Hentschel - known as Roo Boy - of his speed and once-brilliant leap, but he said he put those doubts to bed at the Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

“I didn’t really find the speed that much of a change,” Hentschel said on Monday.

“A lot of people said, ‘The speed might be the thing that catches you out’ or ‘it might surprise you a bit’, but I didn’t find it too much different to a couple of years ago.

“During my recovery, I wondered if the game had got quicker and if would I be able to hold up physically because I knew, mentally, that I’d be right having got through the last two years.

“I doubted whether I’d be up to playing, getting through a full game and then performing. All my doubts were mainly about my physical ability, but they were put right after the game.”

Hentschel, who broke down several times while paying with SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens last season, said he was relieved just to get through his first game since August 2006.

But he conceded his biggest test would be keeping his battered body sound.

“It was bittersweet not having played as well as I wanted to, but at the same time, I was realistic in regards to where I’ve come from. I was pretty happy after the game, but more relieved,” he said.

“Having a long-term injury, you don’t plan too far ahead, I’m not even thinking about round one yet, I’m just thinking about this week.

"If I get picked to go to Alice Springs, I’d like to contribute a bit more to the team and, hopefully, we can have a win.”

The Crows will train on Tuesday morning before flying to Alice Springs to tackle West Coast on Friday.

Forward Kurt Tippett, who was rested with knee soreness last week, should be available for selection.

Taylor Walker suffered a knock to his left knee in the loss to Geelong, but has been cleared of structural damage and is a chance to play this week.

Injured duo Ben Rutten (knee) and Nathan van Berlo (plantar fascia tear) are both 3-4 weeks away, while forward Richard Douglas is close to full training.

First-round draft pick Phil Davis (shoulder) will also increase his competitive training this week.

Greg Gallman (collarbone) is six weeks away and Brad Symes (wrist/thumb) will remain in plaster for a few more weeks.