Kurt Tippett will play finals even if he quits club

CROWS coach Brenton Sanderson has vowed not to make Kurt Tippett an outcast if he wants out of West Lakes.

Tippett

CROWS coach Brenton Sanderson has vowed not to make Kurt Tippett an outcast if he wants out of West Lakes.

While Sanderson said he remained "quietly confident" the key forward would reject big-money offers from Brisbane and Gold Coast to stay at Adelaide, he said he would not banish him from the side if he did decide to leave.

Previous walkouts Nathan Bock (Suns) and Phil Davis (GWS) did not play for the Crows again after agreeing to join the expansion clubs late in a season.

Sanderson said Tippett remained a key part of his finals plans and premiership hopes.

"As long as it's not a distraction for the rest of the group, for the team, we'll certainly pick him because you've got to pick your best team available if you want to succeed," he said.

The out-of-contract Tippett will meet with his manager, Peter Blucher, and key Crows officials in Brisbane on Friday night.

Sanderson stressed that getting Tippett - who has missed four of Adelaide's past five matches - fit and firing in September was "very important" to the club's premiership chances.

"We've won games without him but he's in our best 22 and he really helps our forward structure," he said

Sanderson said while he is getting increasingly concerned about Tippett's future, he would not nail him for a quick decision.

"We'd love for him to stay but at the same time we've got to look at what else is available for us and if he wants to leave he should tell us," he said. "But part of the art of coaching is your relationship with players and I've got a great relationship with Kurt. I speak to him every day and it's not always about football. I feel like I can trust him and he can trust me and I'm sure when you ask him he'll say he's got a great relationship with his coach."

He warned supporters not to expect Tippett, 25, to "just slot back in and dominate" after he had missed so much football following three bouts of concussion.

Sanderson said Tippett would today be named in the side to play the Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night.

But he said a final decision on his fitness wouldn't be made until after club doctor Andrew Potter puts him through a concussion test after the team trains at the Gabba at 1.30pm on Friday.

The Crows also hope small forward Jason Porplyzia (bruised shoulder) will return after missing the win against Fremantle.