Adelaide expect grieving ruckman Sam Jacobs to be galvanised by the death of his brother when he fronts Greater Western Sydney in their AFL qualifying final.
Jacobs' brother Aaron died last week, aged 31, from an undisclosed illness.
But rather than distract Jacobs ahead of Thursday's Adelaide Oval clash, Crows coach Don Pyke predicts the tragedy will inspire his premier ruckman.
"Knowing Sam, it gives him a little extra incentive ... and I'm certain that the guys, as they have, will get around him and support him," Pyke said.
"Speaking to Sam on a fairly regularly basis about how he's travelling, he's going to play and is in a really good space to be able to do that.
"It's a tragic set of events that he's dealing with and his family.
"But he made a pretty early decision that he was keen to play and he's worked himself into a mind frame whereby he's not only ready to play, but perform."
Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron said Jacobs presented a "huge challenge" for his lead ruckman Shane Mumford and his support, Rory Lobb.
"Shane ... has had some great duels with Sam," Cameron said.
"We feel as though with our combination of Mumford and Lobb, we are going to have to be at our very best to make sure he doesn't have a big influence."
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