Kyle Hartigan says he’s tried to model his game on one of the Club’s greatest defenders in an effort to cement his spot in Adelaide’s best 22 this season.

Ben Rutten retired at the end of last season as one of the competition’s most respected full-backs following an 11-year, 229-game career at West Lakes.

The big-bodied Hartigan looms as Rutten’s most likely replacement to offer support to All Australian defender and Crows Club Champion Daniel Talia.

Hartigan, 23, played seven AFL games in 2014 and was on the verge of a late-season recall to the senior side before he was felled in a sickening collision during a SANFL hit-out against Port Adelaide at Alberton.

The clash resulted in a serious spleen injury and broken ribs which brought Hartigan’s season to a premature end.

Eight months on from the incident and now with a full pre-season behind him, Hartigan said 2015 looms as an important year for him to secure his place in the Crows’ starting squad.

“The opportunity is there,” he said.

“I’ve still got a bit of work to do to cement my spot in the team (and) there’s plenty of work to be done.

“I think I’m in pretty good shape to do a good job…but you’ve got to go out there and actually do it.”

Having spent two years under the tutelage of ‘Truck’, Hartigan said he hoped to replicate some of Rutten’s own game to help fill the void left by his retirement.

“‘Truck’ was a great mentor,” he said.

“The thing that ‘Truck’ was really good at out on the field was he was a coach as well, not just a player.

“That voice and instruction out on the field I think, not only me, but everyone in the back six is going to have to step up and come together (to) fill that void that ‘Truck’ left.

“That’s something that I’ve really worked on.”

Phil Walsh’s team-first mantra has been a constant theme this summer at Crows headquarters.

Hartigan said Rutten’s selfless style and the willingness to sacrifice his own game for the good of the team was something he’s focused on in line with Walsh’s philosophies.

“It doesn’t matter whether you walk off the ground with a heap of touches or not, you’ve got to play your role in the team,” he said.

“I think that’s something that ‘Truck’ has installed in us is (to) play your role.”

But Hartigan maintained that defence would be the responsibility of the entire team this season.

“We’re going to have a pretty strong team defence that we’re going to be really strong on, and if you don’t buy into that you’ll find yourself probably out of the team.

“I know Walshy is really hard on defence.”

Crows players will enjoy a three-day break from training before returning to the Club next Monday ahead of Adelaide's Round One opener against the Kangaroos.

Hartigan, who said he’s put on “a couple of kilos” of muscle over the summer, said the players were firmly focused on next Sunday’s clash at Adelaide Oval.

“I can’t wait,” he said.

“It’s been a long pre-season; longer than normal. I just can’t wait to get stuck into games and that weekly routine of playing and crashing into bodies.

“All 18 clubs want to win their first game and get off to a good start. It can set up your whole season.

“We’re looking forward to it and hopefully we can get the ‘W’ (next) weekend.”