STAR Adelaide midfielder Rory Sloane will be given up to the last minute to prove his fitness for Thursday night's qualifying final with Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval.
Sloane did some light running at the Crows' training session at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday morning – eight days after having his appendix removed last Tuesday.
Mega-preview: First qualifying final, Adelaide v GWS
"He had a light run this morning and we'll finalise that this afternoon," Adelaide coach Don Pyke said.
"We'll weigh that up in terms of what is best for him and the team.
"It's a discussion about whether he's fit and available.
"He'll need to do a fair bit more than (what he did) this morning.
"He was just able to do some running, (but) he's got a fair bit of ground to cover."
Sloane's teammate Eddie Betts missed one game and returned to playing 13 days after having his appendix removed earlier this season.
"It's not only what (Sloane's) capacity is based on the surgery, but what is best for him and what is best for the team, all those things come into account," Pyke said.
"We've got to look at it from a viewpoint of what's best for his short-term, and we'd love to have him playing tomorrow night, but if that's going to have impact for him longer term, or impact his ability to perform, we'll make the smart decision.
"Players want to play, and sometimes we have to look at what's best for them and what they're capable of and that's what we'll weigh up and make that decision."
If Sloane is ruled out, Hugh Greenwood is his logical replacement after being rested for the round 23 loss to West Coast, while veteran Scott Thompson could also be considered.
"If Rory doesn't end up playing, we're very confident with the guys we've got who are in good form," he said.
Captain Taylor Walker (toe) and key defender Daniel Talia (ankle) are both cleared to play, while ruckman Sam Jacobs will also face the Giants after the death of his older brother Aaron last week.
"Speaking to Sam on a fairly regularly basis about how he's travelling, he's going to play and is in a really good space to be able to do that," Pyke said.
"It's a tragic set of events that he's dealing with and his family, but he made a pretty early decision that he was keen to play and he's worked himself into a mind frame where he's not only ready to play, but perform.
"Knowing Sam, it gives him a little extra incentive for tomorrow night and the guys will get around him and support him."
