Adelaide remain reluctant to speculate on Josh Rachele's finals chances as they toss up resting Taylor Walker from a trip to Perth.
Rachele has been sidelined for a month after suffering a knee injury against Melbourne.
The brilliant goalsneak won't play in the three remaining home-and-away matches after a posterior capsular tear along with bone compression.
The 22-year-old hopes to return for ladder leaders Adelaide when they return to finals for the first time since 2017.
But Crows coach Matthew Nicks remains uncertain when Rachele will be available.
"I don't have an exact timeline ... I don't want to guess and throw a number out there," Nicks told reporters on Thursday.
"He is progressing really well, so as far as catching up with the specialist and the progress he's making, he's in a really good space but mindful of (not) trying to put a date on it.
"We'd love to see him back, we hope that opportunity shows itself, but we don't know as yet."
Adelaide will likely retain top spot if they win their three remaining matches, starting with Sunday's away fixture against West Coast.
Veteran forward Taylor Walker could be rested from the game, meaning his 300th AFL game would fall on the Crows' first final, potentially in Adelaide.
"We have openly spoken about an incredible milestone and one that we will celebrate, but it's not going to be a factor in the decision that we make," Nicks said.
"He's very mature about where it's at.
"And it's a balancing act because we know how important he is to us - and you don't want to mess with that momentum that we have."
The 35-year-old Walker, who won't decide his playing future until the end of the season, kicked two clutch late goals in Adelaide's win over Hawthorn last Friday night.
"In the end, it's our team that gets the job done but in some really big moments, Tex stepped up and got it done for us," Nicks said.
"So we just want to get that right, we don't want to make that decision incorrectly and it'll be one that we'll see how we go after training."
Walker, Rory Laird and Matt Crouch are the three remaining Crows from the club's losing 2017 grand final.
Crouch hasn't featured at AFL level since round eight. He was sent for a spell because of a hip injury and has played the past three games in the state league.
"He's getting plenty of footy at SANFL level," Nicks said.
"But I know he wants to take his game to another level and feels really confident that he can trust his body."
