ADELAIDE could plump for an Irishman or an Egypt-born defender to fill a void left by a concussion to Jordon Butts.

Butts will miss the Crows' crucial game against Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Sunday after being injured in Saturday's 66-point win over North Melbourne.

Adelaide's selectors will consider Irish import Mark Keane and the Egypt-born James Borlase, who are filling key backline roles at state level.

Keane joined the Crows in January after playing five games for Collingwood between 2019-21 while Borlase, in his third year at Adelaide, is yet to feature at AFL level.

"They have both got unique skill sets," Adelaide assistant coach Nathan van Berlo told reporters on Monday.

"They're both big strong boys. It's not always going to be a case of like-for-like, but those two are certainly doing all they can."

Van Berlo said the Crows would weigh up whether to summon a smaller or hybrid-style defender to a fixture vital for both clubs' finals chances.

Adelaide and Essendon have both won eight games this season, with the Crows holding seventh spot on the ladder by percentage from the eighth-placed Bombers.

"Every week from here on in is going to be important," van Berlo said.

"We know we're right in the hunt at the moment and it's right where we want to be, to be honest.

"Obviously we know they are sitting right next to us on the ladder. It's a really important game."

The Crows have won just once – a last-gasp three-point triumph over lowly Hawthorn in Tasmania in round six – from six away games.

Van Berlo said rectifying the poor record on the road was Adelaide's "next frontier".

"We showed a couple of weeks ago against Collingwood at the 'G that we're up for the challenge," he said, referring to a two-point loss to the Pies on June 25.

"Hopefully we can take that next step this weekend.

"What we've got great confidence out of now is that we know our best footy is more than good enough to mix it with anyone in the comp."