AFL leaders Crows bullish on injured trio

Adelaide expect a key trio of players to prove their fitness for Sunday's AFL game against Port Adelaide.

Eddie Betts is a chance to return for the Crows this Sunday after having his appendix removed. (AAP)

Adelaide is bullish Eddie Betts will headline three key inclusions for Sunday's AFL grudge match against Port Adelaide.

But the ladder-leading Crows will delay decisions on the returns of Betts (appendicitis), Jake Lever (hamstring) and Brad Crouch (fractured cheekbone) until later this week.

"We're really confident that those boys will be right to go but we're not going to play them if they aren't 100 per cent," Adelaide forward Tom Lynch told reporters on Tuesday.

Backman Lever has missed the past two matches while Betts and Crouch were sidelined for Adelaide's draw against Collingwood last Sunday.

Betts had his appendix removed after Adelaide's round 18 win against Geelong.

"He has certainly been back amongst the boys and slowly getting moving," Lynch said of Betts.

"They were taking it pretty slow initially when he had the surgery but they say he improved pretty quickly."

Lynch said the talented trio would take part in Adelaide's main training session on Thursday, where their fitness would be assessed.

The Crows hold a four-point break at the top of the premiership table entering Sunday's twilight fixture against their arch rival.

"Every game you play against Port is usually close," Lynch said.

"So it comes down to willing yourself, contest to contest, and really being prepared for a fierce battle.

"They have been playing some fantastic footy ... we know we're going to be in for a real tough contest and have to be at our absolute best to challenge them and beat them."

Adelaide hold a four-game winning streak against the Power and are playing to keep spot.

And the fifth-placed Power need a win to keep in touch with a valuable top-four finish.

But Lynch baulked at rating Sunday's Showdown as the biggest clash of the home-town enemies.

"The next Showdown is always the biggest," he said.

"It is pretty important for both teams, coming to the pointy end of the year and both teams right in the hunt for finals.

"There have been some special Showdowns ... but in terms of the aspirations of both teams, this year it is a pretty important game."