ADELAIDE ruckman Sam Jacobs doesn't harbour any ill feeling towards former teammate Jake Lever ahead of Sunday's clash with Melbourne in Alice Springs.

It will be the first time Lever has faced the Crows since walking out on the club at the end of last season to join the Demons on a lucrative four-year deal.

"It's just the landscape that footy is, all sports are like it now, so for me, it's his decision and I'm sure he's probably happy with it," Jacobs told reporters on Monday.

"I'm comfortable with him going.

"I'm comfortable the players, like Tom Doedee, we had were going to step up, we were happy we were going to cover him and that's the way it's panned out.

"From that point of view, it's fantastic, that the spot he left has created opportunities to see those guys come in and play some really strong footy."

Doedee has been outstanding in the Crows' backline after learning his trade in the SANFL during the past two seasons.

The 21-year-old has shown why the Crows took a punt on him with the 17th overall pick in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft.

"He's been unreal," Jacobs said.

"I'm a bit old school … he's done his time in the SANFL, he came second in our best and fairest in the SANFL last year and he led the League in intercept marks, so he was ready to go in terms of doing his time.

"He's a really hard-working player and I think it's been a pretty seamless transition.

"He's really surprised me, played some fantastic footy and he's going to be a good player for a long time."

Jacobs has overcome a back injury, while All Australian midfielder Matt Crouch (hamstring) and defender Luke Brown (adductor) will be assessed this week.

Jacobs had back spasms after the Crows' round eight Showdown loss to Port Adelaide, then was in hospital with wife Izzy for the birth of their first child last Monday.

"My back is starting to settle down a fair bit now, it was really uncomfortable in the early days; probably spending a lot of time in hospital wasn't ideal in the lead-up to the game," he said.

"Having the weekend (after the win over the Bulldogs on Friday night), it's been able to settle down, so it's not an issue now."

It's a huge encounter at TIO Traeger Park, with the Demons and Crows third and fourth on the ladder respectively with 6-3 win-loss records and separated only by percentage.

The ruck duel between Jacobs and Demons big man Max Gawn will be critical to the result.

"Gawn's a big monster and he's been able to hit the scoreboard and take some big, contested marks," Jacobs said.

"It's about bringing that level of physicality.

"(Former GWS ruckman) Shane Mumford was always the one setting that bar, but now Max has taken that over, so it's about matching that and playing to my strengths."