ADELAIDE remains cautiously optimistic it can negotiate a live trade at the NAB AFL Draft to move higher up the order, but doubts a blockbuster deal will unfold on Thursday night.

The Crows hold picks No.8, 13, 16 and 21, and have long appeared the most likely candidate to orchestrate the first ever live trade, hopeful of shifting into a position where they can secure one of the many quality South Australian prospects available.

With Jack Lukosius, Izak Rankine and Connor Rozee expected to be wiped from its draft board by the time Adelaide's first selection arrives, national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie has warned against fans holding out hope of a headline-making trade.

However, with the club well researched on almost every trading possibility, Adelaide will remain open to any deals should a rival team change its mind at the last minute.

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"I can't see it happening in a big way," Ogilvie told AFL.com.au on Thursday.

"Not with Carlton or Gold Coast, I don't think that will happen. But you've got to be open to all of the other things. We've worked on hundreds of scenarios, so we're ready if it comes.

"I'm not sure if the big, big moves that everyone would like to see will happen. But we'll see how we go, because we're open to anything."

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With Carlton likely to crown Sam Walsh the new No.1 pick, it's expected Gold Coast will bundle South Australian teammates Lukosius and Rankine with the next two selections.

Port Adelaide looks primed to recruit Rozee with pick No.5 should he slip beyond St Kilda, leaving few local prospects on the board for Adelaide by the time its own pick No.8 arrives.

However, the Crows are not dissuaded by the prospect of recruiting from interstate.

"I can see some (South Australians) that I really love not being available," Ogilvie said.

"We don't know what the other clubs are going to do – a couple might get knocked off before us and some might be available at our pick.

"But it is a national competition, so as good as the year South Australia has had, you can't rely on that. We've got to look everywhere."