Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says it would be madness to underestimate an injury-hit Fremantle in Sunday's AFL clash.
The Dockers travel to Adelaide without dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe, first-choice ruck Sean Darcy and leading goalkicker Matt Taberner.
But Nicks says he's not being fooled by the absentees.
"Nat Fyfe is a superstar of the game but it's not about people," Nicks said.
"I have no doubt we will see the emergence of two or three that step in.
"They are three very, very strong footballers for them but other guys will step in and they will be hungry."
Captain Fyfe is expected to return next week after reporting knee and back soreness as he recovers from a shoulder reconstruction last year.
"He's had a few niggles that have caused him to miss sessions and the risk is just not worth it," Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said.
"We don't expect them to linger for too long.
"It gives us an opportunity to tick every box with his shoulder and get him cherry ripe."
Taberner (hamstring) and Darcy (calf) are also sidelined but Nicks remained wary of the Dockers and Longmuir who, like his Crows counterpart, is entering his third season in charge.
"When you look at the way they have been moving the ball, they do like to shift that footy and challenge you with the ball," Nicks said.
"It's where the game may be won or lost, they have got some really good ball users."
While Freo are depleted, Nicks noted he also had three top-liners unavailable: - former captain Taylor Walker (suspension), two-time club champion Rory Laird (broken hand) and winger Paul Seedsman (concussion).
Nicks has given AFL debuts to last year's draftees Josh Rachele and Jake Soligo.
"These guys have been outstanding performers right throughout their junior years, now they step into another level again," he said.
"Watching those two, I am confident they both have got the game to play at this level."
Adelaide's prized recruit Jordan Dawson (ex-Sydney) will debut for the Crows while injury-plagued duo Matt Crouch and Wayne Milera make their comebacks.
Both Crouch (groin) and Milera (knee) didn't play an AFL premiership game last season - and Milera played just two games in 2020 because of a foot injury.
"It has been a really challenging couple of years for Junior (Milera)," Nicks said.
"And to his, credit he has been an unbelievable professional throughout.
"You wish the best for these sort of guys who put everything into it. He's an outstanding player, an outstanding person."
