CROWS coach Neil Craig is confident his talented youngsters can shoulder the ruck load this season should Rhett Biglands require a second knee reconstruction.

The club is expected to make an official announcement on Biglands’ future this week, but regardless of the outcome, Craig is adamant his side won’t take a backwards step in 2008.

“We’ll have no established ruckman in terms of experience, so there’s no question, we’ll be relying on some very young, inexperienced ruckmen,” he said.

“But we’re on the attack, so don’t send messages to me about us getting defensive in that area [ruck]. We understand they’re young and inexperienced, but they have some talent and they want to play.

“They have to start somewhere and it looks like it starts here.”

Ivan Maric and Jon Griffin shared the supporting ruck role last season behind former Crow Ben Hudson, who has since moved on to the Western Bulldogs.

The young duo has played a combined total of 30 AFL games and has only played together once, in round 19 at Skilled Stadium, when Cats big man Brad Ottens was judged best on ground.

Craig also has the option of using new recruit Brad Moran and highly-rated Queenslander, Kurt Tippett in the centre square, neither of who have played an AFL game for the Crows.

“Two of the young guys (Maric and Griffin) had a real taste of it last year in Geelong. They know about some of the pressures that will come on them, but I’m really confident in the young ruckmen we’ve got,” Craig said.

“We didn’t have Rhett last year and we understand that Ben Hudson isn’t here, but I have a lot of belief and confidence in our younger guys. For example, the way Maric has been preparing, the attitude of a Brad Moran, in terms of where he wants to go in his AFL future, and Jon Griffin, who had a great taste of experience last year.

“Also, our supporters wouldn’t have seen Kurt Tippett yet. Yes, he’s young and inexperienced, but its now time for those guys to step up, and we’ll go with the youngsters.”

Maric, Griffin, Moran and Tippett are all expected to take the field in the game against Collingwood in Dubai on Saturday.

Only three players Trent Hentschel, Nathan Bassett (family reasons) and Biglands have been ruled out of the game and Craig said it would be a good opportunity to experiment with the make-up of his side.

“We’ll name a squad of 30 on Wednesday and of course there are 26 guys that can play. There are some spots that are really competitive and some areas where we actually want to try and do some different things in terms of our flexibility,” he said.

“Obviously if we were playing for four points the makeup of our side would be a bit different, but certainly we won’t compromise our fierce competitive nature.”

Livewire forward Jarrhan Jacky is likely to get his first taste of AFL football in Dubai, while draftee Aaron Kite will enjoy his second-ever plane flight. His first flight was to Adelaide on draft day.

Craig has encouraged his group to experience “all Dubai has to offer” during the 10-day trip.