Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has confirmed key forward Taylor Walker will make a return to the side after missing Round 11's match due to load management.
The Crows have taken the growing approach to players in the twilight of their career, with veterans often being managed out for a one-week stint to provide a small reset and allow for more recovery.
Walker was sidelined for the West Coast clash in the same week Collingwood decided to take the same liberties for Steele Sidebottom, highlighting the trend's growing approval in clubland.
Nicks said the Crows will be boosted by Walker's inclusion in Round 12's match against the Swans, however 31-year-old Rory Laird is being closely considered to be the next Crows veteran to take a seat in the coach's box.
"Tex is in our best 22, and after being managed, he'll come back in," Nicks confirmed.
"It's not straightforward how we go about that, and who might be unfortunate to miss out.
"We spoke about a few other players that we know are at a point in their careers where it is a long season, so we've got to do the right thing by them for them to be at their best. 'Lairdy' is one of those, so we'll have a look again today, we've got to see how the session goes, how the group get through it, who pulls up well - Lairdy being one of those. We'll keep a close eye on it."
While Laird has strung together a patch of consistent form, Nicks is wary of not grinding Laird "into the ground", but also keen to keep team balance and momentum, as the Crows hold claim to three wins in the last month.
"It's more about managing himself into a game, there's the occasional week where he feels really sore and gets himself just right for the game and performs as good as he can. We've got to keep a close eye on that we don't grind him into the ground so that he can't perform," Nicks said.
"But the last few weeks he's probably played some of his best footy. We don't want to flirt with that, we don't want to mess around with momentum. 'Lairdy' is an important part of the team's performance, so it will be a decision we'll look at later this afternoon after the session."
With Adelaide performing strongly at AFL and SANFL level, albeit for a state-league loss to Sturt last week, competition for spots in the starting 22 is at an all-time high, creating selection headaches for the Crows coach.
"(Hugh) Bond's been in great form, he brings a certain intensity to our backline that we know we're gonna need against a team, and the contest is gonna be crucial," Nicks said.
"Brodie Smith's been basically knocking on the door the entire season, he's ready to go if called upon. 'Nank's (Luke Nankervis) one that hasn't played for a few weeks.
"Unfortunately for us, the byes in the SANFL don't necessarily align, so we've got to manage through that as well, of who we do rest and take as a non-player.
"There's a number of things we'll look at."
Full team lineups for all seven matches this bye round will be announced at 6:20pm Thursday, with the Crows set to travel to the SCG to take on Sydney on Saturday night.
