Adelaide could use up to 35 players in its two games on the opening NAB Cup night at AAMI Stadium on Friday, February 11.

And coach Neil Craig wants a strong start to the pre-season series when the Crows take on Melbourne from 7.15pm in two 20-minute halves and then return at 9.25pm to play Port Adelaide.

“We haven’t played well at this stage of the season in the past couple of years so I’m looking for some improvement in our level of competitiveness,” Craig said. “I expect we will make up to ten changes between the games, depending a bit on what happens in the first match.”

Adelaide’s last win in a NAB Cup first round was in 2008, over Collingwood in Dubai.

Last year Adelaide lost to Port by 56 points in the first round and in 2009 the Crows were beaten by the Indigenous All Stars by 54 points before losing to Geelong by 34 points in the NAB Cup.

The only primary list players ruled out of the February 11 games at this stage are David Mackay, Bernie Vince, Will Young and James Craig.

Recruit Richard Tambling will not be available to play for the Indigenous All-Stars against Richmond in Alice Springs this Friday night but is some chance of being ready to play his first game for the Crows the following week.

Adelaide will schedule a short internal game (2x20 mins) during regular training later this week. This session, originally set for Thursday February 3, may be shifted to the following day. Keep an eye on www.afc.com.au for further information.

The squad also trains on Tuesday (February 1) from 9am on Max Basheer Reserve.

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