ADELAIDE midfielder Scott Thompson "could not care less" what anyone outside the club thinks of its premiership chances.

Despite the Crows' equal club record 17-5 minor round season, a favourable draw has led to widespread dismissal of them as a flag threat.

Coach Brenton Sanderson said on Monday he expected to be told his side couldn't go all the way but would look to prove them wrong.

The intense self-belief looms as a major weapon in Adelaide's finals arsenal.

"I could not care less, mate," Thompson said.

" I couldn't care if anyone in this [media] room didn't rate us.

"There's definitely that confidence and belief within the group that we are good enough to match any of the top eight sides now.

"We've got great belief in what we think we can do and if we can go and do that the result will speak for itself."

Saturday's qualifying final against the Sydney Swans looms as a true test of Adelaide's capability to step up on the big stage.

Thompson said the Crows had improved in every area this year and markedly since the side's last final, when Collingwood and Jack Anthony sunk the Crows with a last minute, match-winning goal in the semi-final in 2009.

The 29-year-old said he still remembered the pain of that particular loss, but wouldn't draw on it on Saturday.

"It wasn't a nice feeling, looking back on that game it's definitely one we should have won, [but we] can't change that now … we won't be looking at other finals going into this weekend," he said.

"[There's] a lot of fresh faces in the side, a lot of boys played a lot more footy than they had back then, so a bit more experience, but in saying that we've still got a lot of youth in the side.

"Everyone loves to talk about what's happened in the past and I think as a playing group we couldn't care less … every key indicator that we look at, we've improved in."

This season has been a successful one not only for the Crows, but also for Thompson.

He's averaged almost 30 disposals a game and is one of the favourites to take out this year's Brownlow Medal.

While admitting he'd enjoyed a consistent year, he was reluctant to talk up his chances, but offered reporters a sneaky tip for who he believed was a good chance.

"Save your money," he joked about his personal chances of winning the award.

"[Patrick Dangerfield's] had a good year, a very good year hasn't he?

"What are his odds now? Put a few bucks on Dangerfield."

Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry