A neurosurgeon could determine whether brain-bruised Jason Porplyzia is right to play against St Kilda at Telstra Dome on Sunday.
Porplyzia has been on the sidelines since he was knocked out in a clash with Carlton's Steven Browne back in Round 18.
But he's made steady improvements since and will have a medical assessment on Wednesday afternoon to determine his status.
Adelaide coach Neil Craig was optimistic his small forward would be back in the side before the end of the home and away season.
"We're hopeful and talking to Jason he feels fine. He's been doing some running and kicking and physical activity but we will be guided by the specialist on it so if it's not this week we'd like to think it's definitely the week after," he said.
Craig said Porplyzia may consider wearing a helmet in his comeback but the club would 'rely' on the medical advice received this week.
"If there's something there that can help him or help protect versus wearing for the sake of wearing it. We are open minded about that," he said.
Porplyzia is also dealing with a suspect shoulder that has dislocated several times this season. Craig said the Crows would continue to overlook that problem if he's overcome his head injury.
"If the neurosurgeon gives the all clear we are back to where we were when Jason was playing. We understand he's got a shoulder injury, he understands that he needs to perform with that shoulder injury if he wants to put himself up for selection," he said.
The Crows would love to have Porplyzia back in their side but have shown they can kick a winning score without him and Brett Burton. They've won their past four games and kicked over 100 points in their last two encounters by using a range of players in attack.
Craig said that variety had been the key to the team's success.
"Even when those two were playing we actually rotated quite a few players through the forward line and we are probably doing it even more now, with ruckman going up there and midfielders going through there," he said.
"We've done that by necessity not trying to be tricky or strategic about it. Does it upset other sides - I'm not sure."
Meanwhile a win against the Saints would keep the Crows in the hunt for a top-four spot. But despite qualifying for the finals, the South Australian team is still not thinking about its ranking on the ladder.
"We've got an opportunity over the next two weeks to try and pit our style of football and intensity we've been playing with against two sides that could be in the finals," Craig said.
"Our goal is to try and play the consistent football that we've shown in the last four weeks if you like. Lets keep that going and as I said before let the results look after themselves."