ADELAIDE midfielder Rory Sloane is hoping to return from injury for Saturday's fixture against Carlton.

Sloane has missed the past three games because of a fractured cheekbone.

But teammate Jake Lever says Sloane and fellow onballer Richard Douglas (foot) are pressing to return as the Crows seek to snap a two-game losing sequence.

Fast-starting Lever happy to lean on his mates

Douglas has missed the past four matches while Lever also expects Brodie Smith, sidelined for the past fortnight after being concussed, to be in the selection frame for the trip to Carlton.

"There's probably a couple of guys that could come back this week," four-game defender Lever said.

"It's pretty early to call that; they have still got to get through a main training session on Wednesday. But we're hopeful that not only Rory but a couple of others can come back into the side."

Emerging onballer Brad Crouch is also close to resuming in state league ranks after suffering a pre-season foot injury.