Coach Brenton Sanderson says the Crows won’t be seduced by their strong pre-season form heading into Saturday’s season-opener against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday. 

Adelaide’s 2012 campaign started in the best-possible way, with the Club going through the pre-season competition undefeated to claim the NAB Cup, and boasting a full list to choose from in round one.

Sanderson said “all eyes” would be on his team to see if the NAB Cup was an accurate indication of the Club’s progress over the summer.

“I know the footy world will be eager to see if there’s any sort of (NAB Cup) hangover, but I can tell you it was straight back to work on Monday (after the NAB Cup Grand Final),” Sanderson said.

“We’ve had two weeks of really solid training since and the boys are jumping out of their skin, looking forward to playing round one.”

The clash with the Suns will be Sanderson’s first official game in charge after being appointed as Adelaide’s sixth senior coach in September.

The inaugural Crow and former Geelong player and assistant coach admitted he’d spent numerous nights laying awake thinking about the round one clash.

“Personally, it feels like it’s halfway through the season because I’ve been working for the past six months, but I know the players don’t feel that way,” he said.

“It’s been a long summer and we’ve done a lot of training.

“There have been a lot of sleepless nights for me, but there’s plenty of adrenalin left in the tank.

“I can’t wait to see how far we’ve progressed over the summer.

“The NAB Cup was a good dress rehearsal and now it’s time to play for points.”

Sanderson said there was a “special feeling” attached to round one of the premiership season.

“I said to the players, outside of the finals this (round one) is probably the next-best week in footy,” he said.

“There’s just an outstanding amount of anticipation, with everyone starting from scratch and (waiting to see) who are going to be the side that bounce up the ladder and who are going to be the sides that drop down a little bit.

“There’s a great energy amongst our players, coaching group and our Club.

“It’s really exciting and it would be great to get a win away from home to start the season off.”

Gold Coast finished 16^th in its debut AFL season, claiming three wins.

The Suns are yet to win a game at home, but gave Adelaide an early scare in the first game between the two teams at AAMI Stadium in round one eight last season.

Led by skipper Gary Ablett, who kicked three goals in the first quarter on his way to 41 possessions for the day, the visitors dominated the clearances and held a 14-point lead at the first change before the Crows wrestled control of the match, eventually winning by 57 points.

Sanderson said matching Gold Coast at the clearances would be a key to Adelaide winning the game.

“They’re an incredibly good, young side with a lot of raw talent and they’re going to get better with almost every week,” he said.

“If we can get on top at the clearances, that takes one of their real strengths away, so that’ll be a focus for us.

“We need to try and curb the influence of a young star ruckman in Zac Smith and the talent at ground level with Gary Ablett, Michael Rischitelli, Jared Brennan and Karmichael Hunt, who has really improved out of sight as well.

“Our main focus is probably to win the clearances or breakeven at least.

“They can play some great footy when they get time and space. Like every side that we play, we’re looking to put pressure on the ball carrier and to slow them up offensively.”