ADELAIDE coach Matthew Nicks doubts Gold Coast will target Izak Rankine when the Crows' prized recruit faces his former teammates for the first time.

Rankine walked out of the Suns after three seasons at the end of last year to join Adelaide.

The dynamic forward meets his ex-club in Darwin on Saturday night.

"We haven't actually delved into it at all, we haven't spoken about it," Nicks said.

"It's another game of footy. Our guys will be there for him.

"He's playing some great footy at the moment and I've got no doubt he will look forward to that challenge.

"There is a different thing about playing against your old side. He influences games so I have got no doubt they'll put some time into him.

"I'm not sure whether they go above and beyond that, whether they take the focus off the game itself."

Nicks was more concerned with his seventh-placed outfit claiming the scalp of the Suns, who are 12th, to help Adelaide take another important step: winning away from home.

The Crows have lost three of their four games outside of Adelaide this season.

"The level of footy we're playing at home at the moment is above what we are putting out away," Nicks said.

"So we're looking at a number of different areas that we can focus on. Some of that is in the pre-game, how we prepare – just small changes, nothing drastic.

"Ultimately it's that intent, that intensity, that we're bringing into the game.

"We have got to bring it to the same level we do when we have 40,000-50,000 fans (at Adelaide Oval) that are bringing that energy.

"It's a challenge for us, something we're acknowledging we need to be better at.

"But it's also part of our evolution as a young group. Winning on the road is one that comes with experience."

Nicks has recalled defenders Brodie Smith (back) and Mitch Hinge (concussion) from injury.

Josh Worrell and Ned McHenry have been dropped from Adelaide's starting 22 for its encounter against the Suns, who downed the Western Bulldogs last Saturday night in Darwin.

"We watched closely the Bulldogs and Gold Coast," Nicks said.

"It's wet-weather footy – embrace the contest."