ADELAIDE forward Tom Lynch has avoided surgery on his dislocated shoulder but it is still unclear if he will be fit to play in round one.
It is a big blow for the Crows who will already be without star forward Taylor Walker for their season opener against the Cats on March 20.
AFC.com.au reports that Lynch - the club's leading goalkicker in 2013 - will have a specialist assessment to confirm his rehabilitation program.
After jarring his knee, Crows defender Andy Otten has also avoided surgery but is booked in to have it assessed.
Both players had scans after the Crows' bash-and-crash practice game against Greater Western Sydney on Friday.
The third victim of the game was star midfielder Richard Douglas who returned to Adelaide after spending time in a Sydney hospital.
Douglas suffered aheavy knock to the groin in the match.
Crows football manager Phil Harper told the club's website it was unclear how much time Lynch and Otten would spend on the sidelines but it would become clearer in the coming days.
“At this stage, we don’t anticipate either player needing surgery,however, this will not be confirmed until after they consult theirrespective specialists,” Harper said.
The Crows will not be short of options to replace Lynch and Walker with former Cat James Podsiadly in the frame to make his debut for the Crows against his old club, and former Swan Lewis Johnston impressing in a SANFL trial game.
Johnston booted seven goals on Saturday as Adelaide thumped Sturt by 71 points.
Coach Heath Younie praised Johnston’s work ethic - rather than scoreboard impact - which has often been a knock on his game.
“It wasn’t so much the seven goals that we were happy with, it was more his effort,” Younie said.
