ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke says doubt hovers over the fitness of Tom Lynch and others for Saturday night's game against Melbourne.
Emergencies David Mackay and Riley Knight flew with the Crows side to Darwin on Friday morning, with Pyke admitting some doubts over "a couple of guys".
FULL INJURY LIST Who's ruled out and who's a test?
"Tom is one of them, yeah," Pyke told reporters at Adelaide Airport.
Lynch, a late withdrawal from Adelaide's side which lost to West Coast last week because of hamstring soreness, has been named for the clash with the Demons.
There's a couple of guys that probably just need a run to tick off finally they're ready to go - Don Pyke
Pyke refused to name the other players in doubt, but said taking two emergencies to Darwin was a precaution.
Final selection decisions would be made after Adelaide's training session in Darwin later on Friday.
"There's a couple of guys that probably just need a run to tick off finally they're ready to go," Pyke said.
The Crows have recalled experienced duo Josh Jenkins and Bryce Gibbs, ending their AFL exiles.
Jenkins was dropped after round four, while Gibbs has twice been dumped from AFL ranks this season, including being omitted for last weekend's game.
Pyke said Gibbs' response to his latest axing had been encouraging.
"He is in really good spirits so there's no reason to suggest he's not capable of performing tomorrow night," he said.
"These guys have also got a lot of experience and have played some really good footy at a high level.
"So they're not reaching for something that they have never experienced. They know they're good enough to play at the level and they're in the side to do that."
Listen to the AFL Fantasy Podcast with The Traders at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.
Adelaide has lost consecutive games to slide to seventh on the ladder, and Pyke was wary of Melbourne despite the Demons being 16th with just three wins this season.
"We sit here at five (wins) and five (losses) – are we happy? No, we're not," Pyke said.
"We want to be better than that and we think we're capable of being better than that.
"The last two weeks, we lose by a point (to Brisbane), we lose by two goals (to the Eagles).
"The reality is, against the best teams we just need to do it for longer."
Find AFL Exchange on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.