MIDFIELDER David Mackay has played down the role former Adelaide champion now Essendon assistant coach Simon Goodwin will play ahead of the clash between the two teams on Friday night.

Mackay isn't concerned about the three-time Crows best and fairest winner using his intimate knowledge of the club to help bring it undone at AAMI Stadium.

Goodwin played 275 games in 14 years at Adelaide before joining Essendon as an assistant to new coach James Hird at the end of last season.

Two weeks ago, Hird praised high-profile coaching recruits, ex-Geelong premiership coach Mark Thompson and his one-time assistant Brendan McCartney, for helping mastermind Essendon's upset win over the previously unbeaten Cats.

Mackay conceded Goodwin had intelligence on individual Crows players and team structures, but said he was confident the former skipper's insight wouldn't influence the result on Friday night.

"Simon does know a fair bit about us having been so involved [with the club], but as players we certainly don't think about who's coaching," Mackay said on Monday.

"All reports are that Simon's had a great influence on the Essendon midfield and it's no surprise really.

"He was a great leader while he was at our club and our young guys certainly learned a lot from him, but it's not something we need to worry about too much.

"We need to focus on what we're doing and if we do that right I think we're every chance."

In the rival coach's box, Neil Craig will be able to look to midfield coach Scott Camporeale, who spent three seasons as an assistant at Essendon before joining Adelaide at the end of last year, for inside information on the Bombers.

"Essendon has changed a lot of what they're doing [since Camporeale left] and are probably playing a little bit differently to how they have in the past," Mackay said of Camporeale's influence.

"I'm not sure with Goody helping them and Campo helping us, how much of a role that's going to play."

Adelaide is hoping the 'curse' of the bye won't play a role in the result against Essendon on Friday night, either.

The Crows started sluggishly against Fremantle the week after their first bye in round three, failing to score a goal in the first quarter while conceding five.
The players were given four days off last week, but trained at West Lakes over the weekend in a bid to replicate a standard match day.

The bye came at an inopportune time for Mackay, who returned from a three-month injury layoff in the club's win over the Sydney Swans in round 15.

"I probably would've liked to have kept the momentum going and kept playing, but having said that it was a pretty tough game against the Swans," Mackay said.

"A lot of guys needed that extra recovery because it was such a taxing game, so it was good to have the week off."

The week off also failed to help mature-age midfielder Ian Callinan, who has already been ruled out of the game against the Bombers with a hamstring strain.

Forward Taylor Walker remains in doubt after being reported for a sling tackle in his comeback game from a knee injury with Norwood in the SANFL, but Ricky Henderson (concussion) is available.

The Bombers have a dismal record against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, having managed only four wins over the home team at the venue since the Crows' inception in 1991.

Essendon's most recent win against the Crows outside of Victoria was in round one, 2007.

Adelaide has also claimed victory in the past five games between the teams.

"Essendon seem to struggle when they come over here, so we'll certainly be looking to put them under pressure early on, make sure the crowd gets involved and that we don't let them get into the game," Mackay said.

"They've had a tough run over here, but they're probably a different side to what they have been over the last couple of years, which is going to make it difficult for us."

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