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A HAMSTRING injury to talented forward Alex Sexton will have Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew concerned ahead of round one.

Sexton kicked two goals in the seven-point win over Adelaide but pulled up short in the third quarter and sat out the rest of the game.

In better news Izak Rankine looks likely to make his debut for the Suns in round one, despite missing Friday's Marsh Community Series game with a shoulder complaint.

"If it was a game for premiership points we would have got the guernsey on him," Dew said following Gold Coast's win over Adelaide.

Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson only played half the game for the Suns as pre-planned, but Dew says the duo will benefit from travelling with the team and getting a better understanding of what road games are like.

The update was positive for Adelaide defender Daniel Talia, who returned to the field late in the last quarter after landing heavily on his back in a marking contest.

"(He) landed pretty flush on his coccyx watching it back, so I think it was just that initial bruising but hopefully he's fine," Crows coach Matthew Nicks said post-match.

Nicks was pleased with what he saw out of former captain Taylor Walker in a back-up ruck role, but don't expect 'Tex' to play there every week.

"I thought we saw some really good stuff in around Tex being near the footy," Nicks said post-match.

"What that does do is make you a little smaller ahead of the ball.

"It was pretty obvious towards the end their backs were able to dominate in the air and we couldn't quite get the contest we wanted ahead of the ball.

"It may be that into round one versus Sydney we may play a little taller ahead."

The Suns got off to an outstanding start, with Dew's blueprint clear for everyone to see.

Gold Coast put an emphasis on pressure around the ball and in particular forcing turnovers inside the forward half.

"It was pleasing to see just that things we've been having a go at, at training," Dew said.

"You can see passages of play that we've been really honing in on, on both sides of the ball."

Nicks acknowledged the Crows were well outplayed by the Suns in the contested side of the game early, after also hoping to break even in that area against Melbourne two weeks ago.

"First quarter there's no doubt today we were beaten by a better side in that area," Nicks said.