Izak Rankine injury: Crows to give superstar every chance to take on Cats in Gather Round

The Crows may step in to save Izak Rankine from himself ahead of a massive Gather Round-opening clash with Geelong, with the superstar under an injury cloud.

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Adelaide superstar Izak Rankine will be given every chance to play in Thursday’s Gather Round blockbuster against Geelong but the Crows admit they won’t hesitate resting him to avoid a long term calf issue.

Rankine is in doubt after copping a knock to his calf in the Crows’ thrilling one-point loss over Gold Coast on the weekend.

He did not train on Monday as Nicks said Wednesday’s captains run at Prospect Oval would be crucial in whether he plays.

“He got a knock to the calf, it’s an area where there is some bleeding but no muscle damage

it is just one that we have to be mindful of,” Nicks said.

Izak Rankine is under an injury cloud. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

“The speeds he gets up to and the pressure he puts on that calf the last thing we want to do is lose him for a month.

“He is pretty confident and I think being a huge weekend of footy and a big Thursday night game Izak enjoys a big stage so he is pushing and he really wants to play.

“It will be a joint decision, we will put some faith in him to make the right decision but we may have to step in.

“We will see how he goes.”

Rankine has had soft tissue issues in his career and the Crows put him on ice against Essendon in Round 2 by subbing him out to ensure he didn’t hurt his hamstring.

Nicks said the Crows needed to be mindful of making sure Rankine did not suffer a longer term injury.

“We don’t want this to turn into a month or two months and with the soft tissue stuff when you have bleeding around the calf there is a danger that you can cause more issues,” he said.

“So it will almost be a game day decision.

“On that one we have to look a little long term, everything we do is focused on the now but you have to be smart in that space.

“We know how much he means to our team.”

Matt Crouch is set to return for the Crows after he was managed for the loss to the Suns with hip soreness, while talisman Taylor Walker is determined to play despite just a five-day break between games.

Nicks said Walker’s body was holding up well.

“He is in really good nick at the moment, physically he feels great,” he said.

“Last year there was an issue around his back and it was tightening up in the week and he was struggling.

“This year he is feeling fantastic and pulling up well.”

Walker will be up forward with Darcy Fogarty, fresh off “inking” a semi-permanent tattoo of a Coopers can, netting him a cool $30,000 payday.

“Loved it,” Nicks said.

“I can’t say whether it is real or not, I haven’t had a good look.

“I hope it is not.”

While the footy world is in Adelaide this weekend, Nicks said he wouldn’t be casting his mind to any potential meetings with prospective targets while they are in the state.

“No I think the weekend is set up, we will watch a bit of footy over here,” he said.

“But also spend some time with the family, I have a bit of gardening to do.”

Originally published as Izak Rankine injury: Crows to give superstar every chance to take on Cats in Gather Round