SIDELINED Adelaide forward Tom Lynch has returned to training, but is no guarantee to play in Saturday night's clash with Melbourne at TIO Stadium in Darwin.
Lynch has missed the past two games after he spent time in the intensive care unit with viral meningitis.
"Tommy's been doing some training, but we're waiting on the medical staff to give him the clearance to get back into full training," Crows assistant coach Matthew Clarke said on Monday.
"It's a significant condition, so we're totally backed by the medical staff.
"They will make the call, but he has started some training so he's on the road to recovery, which is really good."
Clarke said defender Luke Brown (knee) and skipper Taylor Walker (eye) should be cleared to face the Demons.
Walker was outstanding in last Friday night's 59-point thumping of the Western Bulldogs.
However, his bump on Bulldogs defender Jason Johanissen that forced him into the goalpost could come under scrutiny by the Match Review Panel.
Walker attempted to protect the ball and checked on Johanissen immediately after the incident.
"It looked like he was trying to shepherd the ball through," Clarke said.
"Obviously afterwards, he's clearly … there was no intent so we'll see.
"I would be (surprised if Walker was suspended)."
The Crows (11-4) have bad memories of the fifth-placed Demons (9-6) after their 41-point loss at Adelaide Oval in round eight.
On that occasion, the Demons successfully tagged Crows club champion Rory Sloane and held him to just 11 possessions.
Rival teams have had similar results, but Sloane enjoyed the freedom of not having a tagger against the Bulldogs.
He collected 24 disposals and had a huge impact on the game with his work at stoppages and outside packs.
"Sloaney has contended with that for a fair while (with the tagging) and it's great for him that he's working through that," Clarke said.
"In terms of the rest of the team, we need them to play their roles.
"There are times to help Sloaney out, but there are also times to just to get on and get the job done.
"There have been a few things trialled over the past six or seven weeks, but the games that Sloaney has played his best footy is where he goes to his strengths; he's a great aerobic runner, he's got great bodywork and he's got great inside skills.
"When he brings those, regardless of whether there's a heavy tag or just a general midfield role, he plays pretty well."
