Both Adelaide and Port Adelaide will enter round one with big names missing from their line up after it was revealed Taylor Walker, Brad Crouch and Jasper Pittard would all fail to suit up this weekend.
The severity of Pittard's injury was of most concern, with the defender set to miss up to five weeks with a hamstring injury he suffered in their second game of the JLT series on March 10.
No Walker and no Brad Crouch for the Crows in Round 1.
Can’t afford to be caught off guard by Essendon’s pace but shouldn’t really have too many worries.
Fogarty should be in conversation for his debut but given opponent/venue, Don Pyke night go for speed over strength. #AFL https://t.co/HbmxG28U9d
— Theo Doropoulos (@TheoDrop) March 19, 2018
Pittard was in and out of the Power line up in 2017, however, with the departure of Jackson Trengove and injury to Matthew Broadbent, Port Adelaide's defence could be undermanned for the opening portion of 2018.
For the Crows, Channel 7's Theo Doropoulous reported that their star duo would miss the trip to Melbourne to take on Essendon in their season opener on Friday night.
Walker's foot has seen him limited throughout the latter stages of the preseason, with the Crows unwilling to risk their captain or Crouch, who has a history of injury niggles.
