ADELAIDE coach Brenton Sanderson predicts a defensive scrap against Melbourne mastermind Paul Roos in Saturday's AFL match at Adelaide Oval.
Sanderson has trained his charges to play against the Sydney style which delivered Roos a premiership at the Swans.
"We're coming up against a young side but they have got a brilliant coach," Sanderson told reporters on Friday.
"They (Melbourne) really have improved defensively, they're ranked in the top eight for defence.
"There won't be any shootouts tomorrow. There won't be a big score from either side.
"His system, his structures behind the ball ... we have prepared to play against almost a Sydney model which Roosy was famous for.
"We're expecting a hard grind, contested ball, defensive game."
The Crows have squared their win-loss ledger at three-all entering their twilight fixture against the 17th-placed Demons, winners just once this season.
Sanderson resisted a temptation to summon key forward Taylor Walker, who made a successful comeback from a knee reconstruction last Friday night in state league ranks.
Walker will again play for the Crows' reserves side this weekend but has been inked in to return to the AFL against Collingwood on May 15.
"He was really close to playing (AFL) this week," Sanderson said.
"We probably didn't expect for him to play so well in his first game back. He looks strong, he looks fit, he hasn't lost any of his natural raw talents."
Instead, Sanderson has put time into Walker's former Adelaide flatmate - Bernie Vince, now playing for Melbourne.
Vince will play against his former club for the first time and Sanderson was wary of the Crows' 2009 club champion.
"We know how damaging he can be, he's one of the best-skilled players in the competition," Sanderson said.
"If you give him time and space, he's going to really hurt you.
"It's great to see him getting a kick and enjoying his footy. He's one of the much-loved former players from our footy club - but we also don't want him to play well tomorrow."
