STAR Adelaide midfielder Patrick Dangerfield will play against Hawthorn tomorrow night but fellow midfielder Scott Thompson remains in doubt.
The duo were two of four Crows under an injury cloud for the important clash at Adelaide Oval earlier this week, along with defenders Daniel Talia and Ben Rutten.
Adelaide Coach Brenton Sanderson confirmed on Thursday Dangerfield would play, declaring it would be near “impossible” to gold the gun midfielder back.
Dangerfield injured his knee in his team’s win over GWS last Saturday and played out the game despite being below his best.
But the news isn’t as good for Thompson, who remains in doubt and will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness after finishing last Saturday's game on the bench.
"Scott Thompson did everything we asked of him [on Thursday] but he might be a game-time decision for us," Sanderson said.
"He knows his body pretty well but we won't take a risk with him.”
Scott Thompson in action for the Crows against GWS last week.
In the event Thompson doesn’t come up, Sanderson said he would be replaced in the selected side by Matt Crouch who was best on ground in the SANFL last weekend with 42 possessions.
Sanderson also confirmed Talia will play, who is expected to be given the task on one of Hawthorn’s gun forwards Jarryd Roughead or Jack Gunston.
Rutten will be named at selection tonight but will need to pass another concussion test on Friday morning after sitting out a portion of the win over GWS following a head knock.
If Thompson and Rutten miss, it will be a massive blow to Adelaide’s chances of knocking off the second-placed Hawks.
Thompson has had another outstanding year, ranked number one at the club for disposals (27.9 average), clearances (6.2) and uncontested possessions (15.5).
He is also ranked second (behind Dangerfield) for centre clearances (2.5).
Rutten, meanwhile has been one of Adelaide’s all-time great defenders, with his consistency and ability to shut down some of the league’s best forwards.
The Crows will need him to play on one of Jarryd Roughead or Jack Gunston – a duo who have kicked 79 goals between them this year.
