Rising Star runner-up Brad Crouch will make his AFL return from a broken leg in Balfours Showdown XXXVII at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Crouch hasn’t made an appearance at the highest level since suffering a fractured tibia in the Round Two Showdown.  The 20-year-old, who was Adelaide’s best-performed midfielder in the latter half of last season, has played two SANFL matches in his comeback.

On Friday, Crows coach Brenton Sanderson confirmed Crouch would join returning forward Tom Lynch in the team to tackle Port Adelaide this week.

“Tommy Lynch is going to be important for us. He’s only played one (full) game this year. Brad Crouch will play as well and he’s a really good in for us. He’s only played one (full) game as well because he broke his leg in the last Showdown,” Sanderson said.

“We’ve missed Lynch a lot. The (full) game he came back for against the Western Bulldogs (in Round Six), he was the best player on the ground. He’s an animal on the track. He’s super fit and will really work hard to help in defence and then push forward. He’s a tricky match up too.

“Those players are always handy in your forward line.”

Wingman David Mackay (concussion) has withdrawn from the team, which will be finalised on afc.com.au at 4:30pm on Friday. He's been replaced in the 25 by young midfielder Mitch Grigg.

Veteran defender Ben Rutten will miss the clash with Port as part of his ongoing management and also because of match-ups.

Power coach Ken Hinkley confirmed Hamish Hartlett (ankle) and Jarman Impey (rested) would play on Sunday, but said former skipper Dom Cassisi was unlikely to overcome a knee complaint.

Port Adelaide, which has dropped only two games this season, sits on top of the AFL ladder, while the Crows are still searching for consistency of performance. Hinkley described Adelaide’s best football as being “as good as anyone in the competition”, while Sanderson said his up-and-down Crows would have to be at their very best to topple Port.

“Port are playing ‘total’ football. They’re playing hard in the contest, attacking well with speed and defending as well as anyone in the competition. They deserve to be a game clear on top of the ladder,” Sanderson said.

“Our form’s been hot and cold. We’ve played some really good footy for four quarters in some games, but in other games unfortunately we’ve only played good footy for two or three quarters. Last week against Essendon, we won three quarters but didn’t win the game. When you kick 2.6 to seven goals in the first quarter, we were always trying just to get back into the match.

“When we play as a team and get an even contribution from 22 guys we’re hard to beat. We’ve still got that self-belief. The Showdown is a great opportunity for us to come up against the best team in the competition at the moment.

“They’re going to be a really hard side for us to beat on Sunday, but if we bring our best we think we can match them.”

Sanderson is yet to record a win over former Geelong compatriot Hinkley, who has steered the Power to victory in the past three meetings between the sides.

“It’s frustrating for our club and our supporters. Even in the three games Ken and I have coached against each other, the Crows have been in front (at different stages in the match),” Sanderson said.

“In 2013, we were up by 30-40 points and they pegged us back and earlier this year we hit the front in the third quarter but they were far too good. We’d like to get one back on Sunday that’s for sure.”

The match will be Adelaide’s first ‘home’ Showdown at Adelaide Oval. Sanderson challenged the Crows faithful to be at their loudest on Sunday evening.

“It was pretty loud here in Round Two. Apart from the Grand Finals, I’ve never been at a stadium that was that loud. That was Port’s fans,” he said.

“This Showdown is our home game and it’s a sell-out. I’m sure our fans will be just as loud if not louder. It will be a great atmosphere. The place will be pumping on Sunday afternoon.”