ADELAIDE captain Nathan van Berlo is set to go head to head with Gold Coast counterpart Gary Ablett on Saturday in the hope of rekindling his best form.

 

Van Berlo has struggled in 2013, averaging 17 disposals and just two tackles a game.

 

While he only averaged 18 touches a match last season, his defensive pressure was up with the best in the competition at five tackles a game.

 

Crows coach Brenton Sanderson admitted the skipper had been used in a variety of roles this year to his detriment.

 

Sanderson hoped that by focusing on stopping the game's No.1 ranked player, van Berlo would be able to find some solidity in his own performance.

 

"[Van Berlo's] probably another one we'll look to just settle down…he's probably been a bit disadvantaged because we have thrown him around a little bit too much," Sanderson said.

 

"At times we've played him just as a pure wingman, at times he's tagged the opposition's best midfielder, we've used him as a forward – he's a beautiful shot for goal…and then when we left Brent Reilly out we used him across half back.

 

"With Ablett this week, we've got a few options…the skipper's played on him a few times before, there's a chance he could play on Ablett this week."

Despite being carved up by Sydney Swan Daniel Hannebery and Richmond's Brett Deledio in recent weeks, Sanderson told radio station 5AA that good side's don't tag - unless they come up against Ablett, apparently, in which case it's essential.

 

"He's the exclusion to that rule … he can win a game off his own boot, " he said.

 

"Other sides have tried to put best player on best player; Geelong tried Steve Johnson on him and tried to hurt him the other way, but I've played with him, I've coached him. He's the best player in the competition. He's going to have to have someone in his back pocket."

 

Sanderson was quick to disqualify the notion, though, that the Suns were a one-man band.

 

"I'm not trying to say they're a one-man team because  they've got some outstanding young talent with (Trent) McKenzie and (Dion) Prestia, they've had really good seasons," he said.

 

"They might get (Harley) Bennell back this week so there's plenty of guys we need to be concerned about."

 

Sanderson ruled out the return of small forward Jared Petrenko (shoulder) but declared Brent Reilly too good to leave out.

 

He said the Crows had significant work to do "across the board" in the second half of the season if they were to win the seven or eight games required to play finals.

 

"Of course we brought up our tackling pressure and our pressure at the ball carrier, that's another issue that's been a problem for 18 months," he said.

 

"Across the board we need to improve in every area.

 

"We're still working really hard behind the scenes to make sure we keep getting better…ultimately we've just got to get better starting this week – simple as that."