The master Sam Jacobs battles his apprentice Reilly O’Brien for number one ruck spot against GWS

Adelaide admits it has a tough selection decision to make ahead of its crunch home clash against GWS on Saturday with ruckman Sam ‘Sauce’ Jacobs ready for an AFL recall.

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The master or the apprentice?

That is the selection dilemma facing Adelaide for its crunch home clash against premiership contender Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night, with the club virtually ruling out playing two genuine ruckmen, veteran ace Sam Jacobs and young bulldozer Reilly O’Brien.

“We probably tend to go down the path of playing one genuine ruckman and a second ruckman, like (key forwards) ‘JJ’ (Josh Jenkins) or Elliott (Himmelberg),’’ assistant coach Ben Hart said.

“It’s not out of the question (to play two genuine ruckmen) but we’d probably prefer the other way.

“So that will be a discussion at match committee — and it will be a tough call.’’

Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs celebrates one of his five goals in the SANFL against North Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Saturday. Picture: KERYN STEVENS (AAP).

Triple All-Australian nominee Jacobs, 31, is ready for an AFL recall — and a head-to-head clash against monster Giants ruckman Shane Mumford — after starring with five goals, 20 disposals, nine marks and 28 hit-outs in his first SANFL game for eight years on Saturday after returning from two months out following knee surgery.

He totalled a remarkable 226 ranking points from 80 per cent of game time in the Crows’ 31-point win against North Adelaide at Prospect.

O’Brien, 23, had played only two AFL games prior to this year but he has filled in admirably for his mentor in nine consecutive games, averaging 13 disposals, three marks, four tackles, 33 hit-outs and 85 SuperCoach points.

But he was beaten by Melbourne’s star All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn in Darwin on Saturday night when the Crows stormed home from five goals behind to win by two points.

He also has been battling a sore ankle.

Reilly O’Brien gives his all against Melbourne ruck gun Max Gawn. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

“ROB’ (O’Brien) has been in really good form, he’s been able to come in as a younger player, take on some of the better ruckmen and do a great job for us,’’ said Hart.

“Sauce’ (Jacobs) has been around a long time, 198 games, and to get him up and going is great.

“He’s pretty confident that he’s ready to go (in the AFL). But it’s a tough decision because Sam was on limited game time last week.

“So the discussion will be ‘is he ready to come back in, has he played enough, does ‘ROB’ need a rest, do we need to play two ruckmen?’

“We were pretty comfortable with what ROB did as well, against Gawn, winning hit-outs (34 to 30) is a pretty good effort by the big man, so it will be a tough decision at match committee and at the moment it’s up in the air.’’

The Crows, who beat Melbourne after a missed set shot from key forward Sam Weideman with six seconds left on the clock, are likely to have some welcome selection headaches following the return of some key cattle.

Apart from Jacobs’ pushing his case in the SANFL, they are hopeful midfield ball magnet Matt Crouch will return from missing three weeks with an abdominal/hip injury.

And they have not drawn a line through co-captain Rory Sloane, despite the on-ball star straining his right hamstring in the first half against Melbourne and being ruled out for the game.

Scans have revealed just a minor medial hamstring strain and general manager of high performance Matt Hass said he had already started running.

“Given the nature and location of the injury, and the fact that he was removed from play, means he has every opportunity to recover by the weekend, so we won’t rule him out of this weekend’s game (yet),” Hass said.

Adelaide will also consider recalling veteran midfielder Richard Douglas after he starred with 31 disposals and eight clearances against the Roosters in his second game back from ankle surgery.

Key defender Kyle Hartigan will be considered after being left out late against the Demons for match-up reasons.