ADELAIDE coach Neil Craig is confident the club will keep all of its uncontracted players from Gold Coast's clutches when the poaching period officially begins at the end of the season.

The Suns have access to one uncontracted player from each club, but have already indicated that they're likely to take just eight.

Out-of-contract Crows Nathan Bock and Scott Thompson have both been linked to a potential move to Gold Coast, while Victorian-born forward Chris Knights is also yet to commit to Adelaide.

South Australians Bock and Thompson have already expressed a desire to stay in Adelaide and Knights told afl.com.au on Thursday that he too was happy there.

Craig believes the star trio will play for Adelaide next season.

"I'd say my gut feel is that we won’t lose anyone [to Gold Coast] … and that's just a gut feel. I'd certainly like to keep all of them," Craig said on Friday.

"I'd like to keep Chris. I'd like to keep Nathan and I'd like to keep Scott Thompson because they are all very important players for us, just as Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield (who have recently re-signed) are important players coming through."

Bock, Thompson and Knights have all stopped short of publicly committing to the club and it's possible none of their deals will get done within four weeks.

Craig denied he had an issue with players putting off contract negotiations until the end of the season, but said that he would want to know if a player was planning to leave.

"Players have a right to negotiate, but what I would want to know is if they've made a decision … I'd like to know that decision. The discussions that I've had with both Chris and Nathan have indicated to me that negotiations are taking place," Craig said.

"What they haven't done is made a decision [to go] and that's fine. They have the right to do that. I've asked, 'Have you made a decision that you want to leave Adelaide?' None of the players have indicated that to me."

Craig admitted he didn't know how he would react if a player told him he was leaving, but said he would be open to the idea of allowing him to remain in the team.