ADELAIDE will be without Rory Sloane for up to six weeks, with the star midfielder set to have surgery to correct a fractured cheekbone.
 
The 2013 club champion cracked his cheekbone in Saturday's win over Gold Coast and scans revealed a depressed fracture.
 
He'll have minor surgery on Monday or Tuesday.
 
“It’s a fairly simple procedure to address the fracture … it’s been depressed and it’s just a little operation to press that bone back out," Crows head of football David Noble said.
 
Sloane's injury opens the door for hard-running midfielder Sam Kerridge to return to the senior line-up after two impressive games in the SANFL.
 
Kerridge – the fittest player at West Lakes – won 36 possessions in his first game back from a hamstring injury and was again the side's top possession-getter at the weekend.
 
Whoever coach Phil Walsh decides to replace Sloane with, former skipper Nathan van Berlo said earlier on Monday the structure was in place to allow him to perform.
 
Several players have spoken about an improved understanding between the coaches and the players at West Lakes in 2015.
 
"[Sloane's] a really important player for us obviously, but we've had a number of guys come in over the past couple of weeks and play their role," van Berlo said.
 
"We'd expect nothing less of whoever comes into play his role.
 
"We like to think that we create enough of a framework that guys know when they come in what their role is and how to play it, whether you're Rory Sloane or whether you're one of our youngest players coming in. 
 
"Those roles won't change too much and this week won't be much different." 
 
Van Berlo said he was feeling no lingering effects from the ruptured Achilles that ruined his 2014 season, but admitted it was taking time for his form to return.
 
After starting the year with promise the 28-year-old again took a step in the right direction against the Suns with 16 possessions and a goal assist.
 
He's noticed the increased speed of the game but didn't want to offer his opponents any advantage by revealing the areas he still felt vulnerable.