Crows primed for Oval night battle with Pies

Adelaide star Taylor Walker takes it all in his stride at training. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

Adelaide skipper will lead Crows' first night match at Adelaide Oval on Thursday against Collingwood. Picture: SARAH REED. Source: News Corp Australia

ADELAIDE will unveil a forward line it believes will become the envy of the competition as Taylor Walker returns and upgraded rookie Charlie Cameron makes his debut.

The moves come after a busy selection meeting, which left veteran Brent Reilly stranded on 199 games and having to fight his way back through the SANFL.

Sitting on a 3-4 record and coming off a loss to the battling Melbourne, coach Brenton Sanderson finally has the attack he had envisioned when he planned for the season over summer.

He believes it is the springboard for a Crows revival as it hunts a finals spot.

"We've had some challenges this last 12 months,'' Sanderson said. "We've had some very different-looking forward lines and we've had some different players going through there.

"But I think our forward line now would have to be the envy of a lot of clubs. When you look at (Josh) Jenkins, (James) Podsiadly, (Eddie) Betts — unfortunately Tommy Lynch is out with a broken jaw but that forward line looks pretty dangerous..

"If we can get the ball in there often enough and if we can get it in with a bit of time and space, I think that will give the opposition a few headaches.''

The obvious boost to the side is Walker, who has been among the club's best players in his two games for the Crows' SANFL side, after 12 months on the sidelines after a knee reconstruction from Round 5 against Carlton at the MCG last season.

Charlie Cameron training with the Crows at Adelaide Oval. PIC SARAH REED. Source: News Corp Australia

Sanderson said Walker would bring an enormous emotional boost to the side and also expected him to be at his best after his rehabilitation work and matches in the SANFL.

"It's great to get `Tex' back; it's been a long 12 months for our fans,'' Sanderson said. ``And also, too, for us internally. He's the spirit of our football team, Tex, and it's a credit to him ... he hasn't put a foot wrong in his rehab and his recovery process and I'm really looking forward to seeing the No. 13 run out for us.

"There's going to be an enormous noise here anyway with a sellout crowd here for Collingwood on a Thursday night but the fact that `Tex' is going to run back out for us after being out for more than 12 months is just going to be awesome for our fans. We can't wait to see him back out there.

"He's a real spark for us. As I said, he's the spirit of our football team and when he's up and about, when he's playing well, we typically play well as a football team.

"What we've seen in the state league has been really promising and really exciting. He's stronger, he looks fitter than before he got injured. But we have to wait and see.

"I'm sure he's going to kick some goals for us at some point during the night. Hopefully that's early in the game and that can really get us rolling.

"Now that we're playing him he has to play as if it's any other game. We can't afford now to have him in cotton wool as he prepares to play. The shackles are off, no more time restrictions. Now it's time to play and perform.''