Erin Phillips is “better than a 50-50 chance” to play in Saturday’s AFLW game against the Western Bulldogs according to Adelaide coach Bec Goddard.

Phillips, who has missed the opening two rounds with a quad strain, will need to train on Friday if she’s to take her place in the selected Crows team.

“It’s been a slow recovery, but we’re going to give her until the last chance to prove her fitness and hopefully she’ll be right to play,” Goddard said.

“We’ve got a light run this afternoon and we’ll see how she goes there and then make the call before the game.

“I’m not a doctor. I’m not an expert but it is a soft tissue issue. It’s been a small strain but just with her age and recovery she’s re-aggravated it as it’s gone on.

“She’s close, she’s really close.”

Goddard said co-captain Phillips was desperate to play, and try and help the Crows to their first win of the season.

“She wants to be there, she can see where the group is at at the moment, she knows what her value is,” Goddard said.

“But she’s a total professional, she’s not going to put herself in a situation where she could really do some damage to herself, so if she’s right, she’ll tell us she’s right and we’ll go from there.”

Despite a tough start to the season with two losses against the Brisbane Lions and Melbourne, Goddard said the team was still upbeat ahead of its crucial clash against the Bulldogs.

“We’re really positive and we talk about what the girls are doing well rather than what they’re not doing well and we focus on those things,” Goddard said.

“We want to come out and throw the first punch on Saturday and stay in the fight for the whole game rather than just throw the punch and roll over.

“It’s certainly not what we’re used to playing. We want to bring four quarters of full Crows pressure this weekend.

“It might be Chinese New Year of the dog but we’re hoping for Saturday afternoon of the Crow.”

Even though it is only the third game of the season, it shapes as a must-win game for the Crows if they hope to finish in the top two and make the Grand Final in 2018.

To reduce the pressure placed on the teams, Goddard believes the AFLW season should be expanded to include a Semi-Final.

“I think the season should be extended to a final four rather than just a Grand Final, because the girls are only part time athletes and the coaches have difficulty managing a game plan and the expectations of an entire football club and the fans,” Goddard said.

“If you at least go to a final four that alleviates a little bit of pressure and helps them prepare mentally for the season ahead.”