ADELAIDE skipper Taylor Walker expects to return from a hamstring injury to play Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.

After experiencing hamstring tightness during the final JLT Community Series game, Taylor was a late withdrawal from round one against Greater Western Sydney when he pulled up sore from the final training session.

However Walker told Triple M Adelaide that he hoped to prove his fitness at training on Tuesday and Thursday this week.

"I'm pretty confident I will play this week," Walker said.

"The plan is that I will do everything [at training]. The main session is Thursday."

Adelaide hardly missed its key forward against the Giants, with 11 goalkickers kicking 22 goals, however Walker is a certain inclusion if fit.

The mercurial Eddie Betts has been Adelaide's leading goalkicker for the past three seasons, but Walker has kicked 140 goals during that period.