Adelaide's revival as an AFL finals prospect faces a litmus test on several fronts in their high-stakes game against Essendon, coach Matthew Nicks says.
Entering the round, the Crows held seventh spot by percentage from the eighth-placed Bombers.
Nicks rates Essendon the equal of any team in the competition in fast ball movement, which he says is Adelaide's initial challenge.
"It's one thing to know they do it, but another thing to be able to stop it," Nicks said.
"And it's something that we have struggled with in the past.
"We respect the way they move the footy, they're as good as any.
"They have got some great ball users on the wings and halfback, right through that midfield."
Compounding that challenge is the venue - Marvel Stadium, likely under a closed roof.
"The venue lends itself to benefit those teams that can really move the ball," Nicks said.
Adelaide's record on the road is another aspect confronting Nicks' team.
The Crows are 1-5 away from Adelaide Oval this season - the only win was a three-point victory over lowly Hawthorn in Tasmania on April 22.
"We have had our chances away from home, games we could have won and we probably look back and say we should have won - we didn't," Nicks said.
"So that's our work on, the ability to remain composed when we have those opportunities.
"We really looking forward to this challenge because there's not many bigger.
"Essendon are playing great footy, they're one of the best teams at moving the football and Marvel sets up for that, it's that sort of deck."
Yet another facet is the ramifications of the result: the loser will drop out of the top eight should reigning premiers Geelong down 17th placed North Melbourne on Sunday.
"We know what's coming and we know how big this game of footy is," Nicks said.
"I'm sure our opposition are feeling the same way."
Essendon coach Brad Scott is, but he's not dwelling on it.
"They all feel important," Scott said.
"But we probably look at it differently ... you look at your upcoming opponent, you want to perform and get that job done and then regardless of the result, you move on to the next week.
"So that's really where our focus is. And the outcome will be the sum of all the wins and losses at the end of the season.
"But we're just really focused, as I'm sure Adelaide will be, on this week."
