ADELAIDE has full confidence that stars Rory Sloane and Daniel Talia will be able to perform against Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, having overcome injury concerns during the week. 

Sloane hasn't played since re-breaking his cheekbone against the Brisbane Lions in round 13, while Talia was subbed out with concussion against Port Adelaide last weekend. 

Full-back Talia, the reigning best and fairest, is perhaps the clubs most important player and despite having his workload minimised this week, Crows ruck coach Matthew Clarke said he was right to go. 

Clarke said the club's expectations on Sloane in his return game would be kept in check but that he was an important inclusion. 

"[Sloane's] trained really hard over the last month and it was just a matter of getting through a bit of contact, which he did on Thursday so we're really comfortable that he'll perform well," Clarke said. 

"First up our expectations have to be realistic but he's a very good player. 

"'Tarls' had a really light week, six-day break, but the doctors have cleared him so we're really happy to go with him – he's obviously an integral part of our team."

With rain forecast, Sloane's ability in the wet could be a crucial factor in deciding the result, as will Sam Jacobs' work in the ruck. 

Jacobs was phenomenal against the Power, finishing with 51 hit-outs in what was close to a best-on-ground display.

It was also a great response from being comprehensively beaten by West Coast big man Nic Naitanui the week before – albeit in trying, emotional circumstances. 

After the Showdown Jacobs told AFL.com.au he felt as though he was back to his best and Clarke agreed. 

"Over the course of the season his form's been really solid [but he's got] another big challenge, they've got a number of talls that they'll throw at him," he said. 

"We played a game here against Melbourne earlier in the season where I think there were 110 stoppages or something – obviously the ruck contest in those situations is important. If you can get the ball going forward then that's to your benefit. 

"[Jacobs has] become one of our really, really important players and will be for the next few years."