AN ANKLE injury to Kurt Tippett is likely to open the door for utility Shaun McKernan to play just his second AFL game in Adelaide's season opener against Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.

Tippett injured his ankle in the Crows' loss to Carlton in round three of the NAB Challenge and is set to spend another two weeks on the sidelines, after being ruled out of the clash with the Hawks. 

McKernan made his debut against Richmond in round 14, 2009 but was robbed of the chance of adding to his games tally when he broke his arm at training the next week.

The athletic forward/ruckman was named an emergency for the Crows six times last year and was unlucky not to be selected in the latter rounds of the season.

McKernan impressed both up forward and in the ruck during the club's pre-season campaign and midfielder Patrick Dangerfield said the third-year player was a ready-made replacement for the injured Tippett.

"It's disappointing to not have Kurt around, but the depth of the group has been our strength so far," Dangerfield said on Monday.

"Taylor Walker played a really good game last weekend and Shaun has also been in good form… so we've got some players there, who can certainly cover him"

Walker stepped up in Tippett's absence in Adelaide's final pre-season hit-out against Richmond, booting seven goals and renewing speculation he performs better without Tippett the team.

Dangerfield said it was likely Walker would rotate between full-forward and centre-half forward against Hawthorn this weekend.

"Shaun and Taylor are both good lead-out players [out of the goal square]," Dangerfield said.

"I really like Tex's [Walker] work around centre half-forward with his big engine. He's been really good, but at the same time with the way the game goes the forwards just chop and change through full-forward/centre half-forward throughout the game."

Young defender Phil Davis could also have a big role to play on Saturday night opposed to one of the best forwards in the competition, Lance Franklin.

Davis will hold down a key post at centre half-back this season, following All-Australian defender Nathan Bock's defection to Gold Coast.

Franklin has the capacity to push higher up the ground and Dangerfield said it was likely the Crows would use multiple players to try and quell his influence.

"If Buddy plays across half-forward Phil might get him," he said.

"But the good thing about the backline is that Ben Rutten is down there, who can cover him [Franklin] and Scott Stevens has been in really good form as well.

"I think they'll chop and change between the three of them."

Saturday night's clash at AAMI Stadium will mark the 20-year anniversary of Adelaide's first-ever game against Hawthorn in round one, 1991.

Dangerfield was just a one-year old when the Crows beat the Hawks by 86 points that night, but the self-confessed South-Australian covert said the occasion still held significance for him.

"I think with the previous players that we've had and the culture they've instilled and created over 20 years… the anniversary means a huge amount," he said.

"It's a celebration of our football club and what we've achieved in 20 years.

Round one is big enough, but it's extra special with what's riding on it."