Where and when: Subiaco Oval, Sunday, April 12, 2.40pm AWST
Head to head: Fremantle 9 wins, Adelaide 13 wins, no draws
Last time: Adelaide 12.16 (88) d Fremantle 10.11 (71), round 5, 2008 at AAMI

Missing in action
Fremantle:
Roger Hayden (hamstring) – test, Des Headland (calf) – 2 weeks, Chris Mayne (ankle) – 2-3 weeks, Hayden Ballantyne (wrist) – 4 weeks, Ben Bucovaz (hip) – 5 weeks, Brent Connelly (hip) – 5 weeks

Adelaide:
Scott Stevens (hamstring) – test, Will Young (hamstring) – test, Greg Gallman (collarbone) – test, Trent Hentschel (knee) – 4 weeks, Chris Knights (eye) – 4 weeks,
Rory Sloane (knee) – 4 weeks, Brett Burton (knee) – indefinite

FORM
Adelaide: WL
Fremantle: LL

SUMMARY

Mark Harvey has indicated first-year players Stephen Hill and Nic Suban will hold their spots for Fremantle, while two more debutants are likely to join them on Subiaco Oval. However, a lack of depth is not Fremantle's only problem. The side's senior players are not performing, targets are being missed and shots on goal consistently sprayed.

Adelaide, on the other hand, started the year terrifically well against Collingwood with Bernie Vince complementing established stars Andrew McLeod, Tyson Edwards and Simon Goodwin.

The Crows pushed St Kilda for the majority of their round two clash, but the loss of goal-kicker Trent Hentschel and key backman Bock will be felt this week. 

PLAYER TO WATCH
Matthew Pavlich: Fremantle fans aren't used to seeing the skipper struggle but he's had a fortnight to forget, averaging 18 touches and booting a total of three goals. Debate rages over whether he should play forward or in the middle, but Fremantle has struggled in both parts of the ground. His effect on the game and not his position is what fans will watch this week.

Bernie Vince: The Crows want the ball in Vince's hands, with his damaging disposal and sound decision-making. The hard-working midfielder showed with 33 touches against the Pies that he is quickly emerging as a top-line player, but under St Kilda's heavy scrutiny he was less prolific. Will likely face a hard tag from Freo, but if he breaks that he could break open the game.  

QUESTION MARKS
After being the big stories in their respective cities this week, who will come out more fired up?

Will Fremantle kick straight, hit targets or win their fair share of clearances?

With Bock out and the versatile Scott Stevens in doubt, how will Adelaide cover a potentially tall Freo forward line?

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY?
Beware the wounded Freo, some might say. Particularly when Pavlich is due for a big game and doesn't have anyone standing in his way.

Bock would have been an ideal opponent for the Fremantle skipper, while Stevens still may be if he can get his hamstring right. If not, Adelaide may be handing a big job to a youngster.

Nevertheless, the Crows have been playing with a structure and discipline that suggests they can overcome a few key position shortcomings. They should also overcome a wounded Freo side that will be younger than that which lost convincingly to Essendon and the Western Bulldogs.

PREDICTION
Adelaide by 22 points

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.