Adelaide has sent midfielder Brad Crouch for surgery on his troublesome groin injury in a move which could end his AFL season.
Crouch hasn't played all year as he battles osteitis pubis but the Crows initially baulked at surgery, hoping rest would heal the influential onballer.
But on the eve of Adelaide's home match against Greater Western Sydney, the Crows say Crouch will have surgery,.
Adelaide assistant coach Scott Camporeale says there's "no timeline" for Crouch's return.
"Clearly we want to get him right, he's an important part of our group," Camporeale told reporters on Saturday.
"The whole process of trying to get him where we needed to get him to hasn't worked and this is the next course of action.
"It has been a tough road for him, no doubt ... unfortunately he just can't physically do it at the moment."
Adelaide's first-year forward Darcy Fogarty has inked a two-year contract extension as the Camporeale backed Crows players to make a "swift response" to their 91-point loss to Melbourne last weekend - the heaviest defeat in head coach Don Pyke's tenure.
"We didn't perform anywhere near our standard," Camporeale said.
"But traditionally, I know this group responds really well when we have got challenged or played a poor performance the week before."
The Giants, who have lost four games in a row to slide to 11th on the ladder, have recalled co-captain Phil Davis, Sam Taylor and Sam Reid to replace Dylan Buckley (omitted), Tim Mohr (injured) and Matt Buntine (omitted).
The seventh-placed Crows dropped Jordan Gallucci and Myles Poholke, summoning Paul Seedsman and Lachlan Murphy.
Camporeale said the initial moments of the Adelaide Oval fixture could prove decisive.
"The first five minutes in any game is critical because it really sets the tone of the game," he said.
"Melbourne did that the week before to us but we have been pretty solid in that area.
"It will be an intriguing battle right from the start."
