ADELAIDE’S Brad Moran is confident Saturday night’s clash with the Swans can serve as the turning point in Adelaide’s stagnating surge towards September.

Sunday’s 12-point loss to Port Adelaide saw the Crows slip to ninth on the ladder, which, coincidentally, is where the club was placed after 16 rounds last season.

In 2007, Adelaide won four of its last six games to sneak into the top eight and, with a record of 8-8, will be faced with the same predicament this year.

Moran, who played his first game for the Crows in Showdown XXV, said his team’s late finals charge would start with a win in Sydney this week.

“At home, the Swans are generally strong, but we have a good record against them,” Moran said on Monday.

“I think it’s going to be the turning point, where, if we get a win this week, it will be possible to win four out of the last six [necessary to make finals].

“The most important thing for us is to stick at what we’re doing and remain consistent across the four quarters. We have to make sure we’re winning the contested ball and getting to the ball first because when we do that the team comes together, everyone works for each other and that’s when we play our best football.”

The Crows shot into the top four after winning six of their opening eight games this season, but have critics questioning their credibility as a genuine finals contender after five-straight losses.

Adelaide has lost four games by 15-points or in 2008 and Moran said the only thing missing from the Crows game plan was consistency.

“We played some good football earlier in the year and we have been playing some really good football in patches at the moment, but one think we need to do is become more consistent across the whole game,” he said.

“If you look at four of the last five weeks, we were leading at half time, which tells you we were right in the game and up there with the best.

“We can be one of the best contenders in the League. It’s just about remaining positive, getting back on the horse and trying to get a win.”

The Crows reported several sore bodies from the hard fought battle with Port Adelaide, but no significant injuries.

Coach Neil Craig will not have players returning from injury to consider for the crucial clash with the Swans with Brent Reilly (knee) and Jason Porplyzia (shoulder) at least two weeks away.

Forward Trent Hentschel is rated as a ‘test’, but is likely to resume from a hamstring strain with Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL.

Moran said Adelaide’s competitiveness and ability to overcome injury and inconsistency would determine the club’s finals chances.

“No great success has been achieved without a lot of adversity and I think we’re on the right track. We’ve got some good kids coming through, we’ve got a good list and we’ve just got to hang tight,” he said.

“The best thing about this group is that the guys are so demanding of each other and there’s not a bad performance let slip.

“Everyone is very professional here and we’re all looking for the greater outcome, which is to win and to play finals.”