HAVING taken nearly a decade to rack up 99 games, you can be sure Andy Otten won't take Saturday's clash with Gold Coast lightly.

The Suns are rank $9 outsiders with some bookies to upset the Crows at their Adelaide Oval fortress.

But Otten's personal experience and the Suns' newfound intensity is enough to remind him nothing is as straightforward as that.

The defender nearly pouched the AFL's Rising Star honours in his 2008 debut season, but serious injuries to both knees and his groin have provided constant hurdles since.

Injuries to teammates opened the door for his latest return last week, and he will finally raise the bat against the Suns.

"It just shows that nothing's guaranteed," he told reporters on Friday.

"I had a bit of a rollercoaster ride to get to where I am, but it's been a fun journey ... had to have a lot of resilience, grit and determination and a bit of fight."

Both teams boast 3-2 records ahead of Saturday's clash, with Matt Crouch (hamstring) back for the Crows, and Michael Barlow (broken leg) forcing his Suns return after irresistible NEAFL form.

Rory Sloane (foot) will not return as expected though, while inaugural Sun Michael Rischitelli follows teammate Aaron Hall to the emergency list in Stuart Dew's second telling omission in as many weeks.

In an ironic twist, former Fremantle midfielder Barlow, who's averaged 41.5 disposals in two NEAFL games this season, is back after Darcy Macpherson fractured his lower leg against the Lions.

Adelaide are contested ball specialists, but under Dew the Suns have shown their ability to dominate that facet of the game too.

That battle, as well as the duel in both forward 50s, shapes as decisive.

"We've shown we are capable of bringing the intent we're after," Dew said of the Suns' full-field defensive pressure.

"But when they're on they're really damaging ... had a big win in Sydney and we're preparing for the best."

Otten said his side needed to show the same intent on Saturday to ensure there were no hiccups at home.

"If you're a bit off any team is a chance and Gold Coast are in good form, had three wins and their contested ball is at an elite level," he said.

He tipped key defender Daniel Talia to take the job on gun Suns forward Tom Lynch after the Crow kept Lance Franklin to a single major last weekend.

"'Tahlsy' loves a challenge; he's our best defender, he's their best forward and I think it'll be a great contest," he said.