Melbourne believe their clash with Adelaide in Alice Springs will tell them much about their standing in the AFL competition.
Sunday's clash between the fourth (Demons) and fifth-placed teams is a Melbourne home game due to sponsorship deals with the Northern Territory government.
The Demons will go in as favourites against a Crows team hurt by the absences of key players and leaders including the injured Taylor Walker, Rory Sloane and Mitch McGovern.P
However Adelaide should at least enjoy stronger crowd support among the 7000 expected at Traeger Park, judging by the number of local fans walking around in Crows colours.
Melbourne have won four in a row, but against teams below them and out of the eight.P
Adelaide are ranked first for contested possessions and Demons defender Neville Jetta said the match was a "good chance to see where we're really at".
"We can't afford to drop off as we saw last year with the last game in the season," he said, referring to the final round loss that cost the Demons a finals spot in 2017.P
Melbourne know Traeger Park and its wide wings well, having played there several times for premiership points.P
"I love playing here, the weather is unbelievable and the backdrop is even more unbelievable," Jetta said.P
"The people here are really passionate, you can see that when you run out onto the field and hear the cheers."P
Young Crow wingman Wayne Milera said the club believed its depth was strong enough to counter its long injury list.P
"Whoever comes in, we know that they are going to play a role for us and do a job, that's what we'll be focussing on tomorrow," he said.P
The Alice Springs match is a special one for indigenous players on both teams.
Crows star Eddie Betts was easily the most popular with fans seeking selfies at training.P
Betts and Jetta posed in indigenous round guernseys on Saturday with the Crows' jumper designed by artist Roger Rigney, the uncle of young wingman Wayne Milera.P
