The Hawks take on the Crows at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon in a Round 6 clash with much on the line for both sides.

With the news that key forward Taylor Walker will miss the remainder of the 2013 season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, the Crows now need to find a player to replace the spearhead who has kicked 10 goals for his side in the opening five matches.

So who's in the mix at Adelaide that could fill a void for Coach, Brenton Sanderson?

Shaun McKernan is the man most likely to get the call up from Sanderson after an impressive performance in the SANFL last weekend. McKernan, a 196cm and 99kg forward booted five goals for SANFL club Glenelg and showed the characteristics that could make him the ideal replacement for Walker.

McKernan can take a mark overhead, is athletic and capable of being as dangerous below his knees as he is above his head.

He has the body for AFL too, weighing in at 99kgs and is a versatile player, able to also spend time in the ruck to relieve Sam Jacobs.

Former Swan Lewis Johnson could also find his way into the Adelaide team to replace Walker. Johnson is a former number 12 draft pick who was traded to the Crows at the end of the 2011 season. He is a 191cm, 91kg utility with good skills and the ability to play at both ends of the ground.

Moving away from a solution to its key forward problem, Jason Porplyzia could be given a reprieve after being dropped for the Crows' Round 5 loss to Carlton. So far in 2013, Porplyzia has struggled to have an impact at AFL level and has been a victim of the Crows' indifferent start to 2013.

Veteran utility Graham Johncock also performed well in the SANFL, booting five goals. He provides his coach with the versatility of being able to play either as a small forward or small defender and could come in handy against a Hawthorn side that has dangerous smalls up forward and All-Australian caliber rebounding defenders in Grant Birchall and Ben Stratton.

Captain Nathan van Berlo won't be considered, still listed as being 2-3 weeks away from a return from a knee injury, while talented youngster Brad Crouch will also miss with a hamstring injury.