Recruit Tyson Stengle could make his AFL debut for Adelaide as a replacement for injured teammate Wayne Milera.
Milera will miss at least a month because of a shoulder sprain suffered in last Sunday's win against Gold Coast.
The emerging utility could be out even longer, with a decision to be made next week whether he needs surgery.
"High grade AC joint sprain, a month (out) is probably being conservative," Crows assistant coach Ben Hart told reporters on Tuesday.
"They are going to let it settle down ... but if he does require surgery, which they will find out after this week, then it could be longer."
Stengle, who played two AFL games for Richmond before joining Adelaide in the off-season, Myles Poholke and Jordan Gallucci were possible replacements for Adelaide's away game against St Kilda on Saturday night.
Milera was shifted to half-forward before being hurt against the Suns, with his usual defensive role filled by Bryce Gibbs.
"He (Milera) will be a big loss, he had been building his form pretty nicely and he's a player that we can use in a variety of positions as well," Hart said.
"We have got guys in SANFL who are in good enough form to come in
"If Bryce does stay down back ... it might mean we need to find another forward to replace where Wayne was playing.
"So Jordan Gallucci, Myles Poholke, Tyson Stengle, have all been in reasonable form in the SANFL so I think that might be what we look at."
