Adelaide has named its side for the 2021 season opener against Geelong on Saturday.

Defenders Tom Doedee and Jake Kelly have both been included after overcoming minor injuries, bolstering the Crows’ defensive stocks against a potent Cats forward line spearheaded by 2020 Coleman Medallist Tom Hawkins.

Young Crow Jordon Butts is expected to stand Hawkins when the opening siren sounds in what will be his third senior game.

GAME DAY GUIDE: All you need to know for Saturday’s game at Adelaide Oval

Butts will be one of nine Crows in the selected team with fewer than 10 games of AFL experience, including debutants Sam Berry and James Rowe, with Adelaide hopeful of its younger brigade bringing energy and excitement to Adelaide Oval this Saturday.

“We’re confident that the group we’ve put out there for this weekend is going to make us as strong as we can in Round One,” coach Matthew Nicks told reporters on Thursday.

Chayce Jones, David Mackay, Mitch Hinge and Darcy Fogarty have been listed as the emergencies, with one of those players to be confirmed as Adelaide’s medical substitute one hour before first bounce.

Midfielder Matt Crouch was ruled out of Saturday’s clash with groin soreness.

The game between the Crows and Cats gets underway at 4.05pm ACDT, with all the action to be broadcast live on Channel 7 Adelaide and Fox Footy.

Adelaide’s Round One team is...