Adelaide Crows go into battle against Geelong without Patrick Dangerfield

TEAMS: ADELAIDE has had to deal with replacing midfielder-forward Patrick Dangerfield for the first time since round 19, 2010.

ADELAIDE has had to deal with replacing midfielder-forward Patrick Dangerfield for the first time since round 19, 2010, when he was sidelined for one week with a hand injury.

This time, Dangerfield could miss as many as four games as he recuperates from the right-shoulder injury he suffered in a fair bump from Collingwood novice Sam Dwyer at the MCG last Friday night.

And Crows coach Brenton Sanderson yesterday emphasised: "No one can replace Dangerfield.

"He's a leader of our team.

"He does things in a game which really sends a message to the rest of his team-mates, but also the opposition."

Sanderson late today will reveal, as he put it, the "creative way" the Crows will cover Dangerfield's absence with a 22-man line-up to play Geelong in a must-win game at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

Sanderson's 25-man preliminary squad adds untried midfielder Mitch Grigg, Rising Star nominee Sam Kerridge, forgotten defenders Luke Thompson and Richard Tambling and small forward Ian Callinan. Defender Matthew Jaensch already has been dropped.

Grigg's first AFL game is much anticipated after his regularly impressive performances in the SANFL at Norwood.

"Griggy is a 19-year-old who's had a good year for Norwood," said Sanderson.

"He's a good inside midfielder - and as we said, he's not Patrick Dangerfield. But whoever comes into the side this week just needs to play his role."

Experienced midfielder Scott Thompson, who has carried injury throughout the season, is guaranteed a start - and "is fit," says Sanderson.

"He'll be back to his best this week," he said.

Adelaide is on the edge with the Crows one loss from elimination from the finals race.

They also have to deal with a poor record at home where Adelaide has won just two of eight games this season.

AAMI STADIUM, SUNDAY, 2.50pm

CROWS

Forwards: 11 Wright, 27 Lynch, 40 Porplyzia

Half-forwards: 2 Crouch, 4 Jenkins, 17 Vince

Centre: 14 Mackay, 5 Thompson, 9 Sloane

Half-backs: 46 Laird, 12 Talia, 33 Smith

Backs: 16 Brown, 25 Rutten, 22 Otten

Ruck: Jacobs (24), van Berlo (7), Douglas (26)

Interchange (from): Tambling (1), Thompson (6), Kerridge (29), Lyons (31), Grigg (38), Callinan (37), Henderson (45)

In: Tambling, Callinan, Thompson, Grigg, Kerridge

Out: Jaensch, Dangerfield (shoulder)

CATS

Forwards: 5 Varcoe, 26 Hawkins, 32 Motlop

Half-forwards: 2 Smedts, 31 Podsiadly, 27 Stokes

Centre: 11 Corey, 14 Selwood, 22 Duncan

Half-backs: 44 Enright, 7 Taylor, 19 Hunt

Backs: 8 Hunt, 13 Lonergan, 29 Guthrie

Ruck: Simpson (16), Kelly (9), Bartel (3)

Interchange (from): Blicavs (46), Caddy (23), Horlin-Smith (33), Mackie (4), Murdoch (21), Stringer (41), Vardy (30)

In: Corey, Enright, Stokes, Vardy

Out: Johnson (suspension)