Sydney coach Paul Roos hinted at a weekend recall for Barry Hall but insisted the forward's return would come when he was ready and not just to cover the injured Michael O'Loughlin.

Fourth-placed Sydney paid a heavy cost for their two-point win over Carlton on Sunday at Telstra Dome, with O'Loughlin (ankle) to miss Saturday night's SCG clash with ninth-placed Adelaide.

And while Sydney would dearly love to have their six-time leading goalkicker Hall back in action, the 31-year-old's fate still rests with club psychologist Grant Brecht who is working with him over anger management issues.

"It's not really an injury (decision)," Roos said of a possible recall for Hall against the Crows.

"It doesn't matter whether Mick's playing or not playing, it's whether Barry is capable of playing at the moment.

"All I do know is last week talking to Grant, he said it would be sooner rather than later.

"He knew what they had to work on and he was confident that would happen reasonably quickly.

"Is it this week? I'm not sure."

Hall has missed two matches since the club imposed a ban on the three-time All-Australian.

It had followed a seven-week suspension for king-hitting West Coast's Brent Staker and a further week for elbowing Collingwood's Shane Wakelin.

In other injury news at the club Roos said fullback Leo Barry (hamstring) was a "50-50" chance to play against the Crows.

He said star utility Ryan O'Keefe, who kicked three goals and gathered 29 possessions despite an ankle problem, "looks pretty good today".

In a comical piece of timing, O'Keefe was hobbling out of the club's offices on crutches as Roos spoke, but the left-footer is expected to play against the Crows.

The coach said halfback Nick Malceski, who didn't play against the Blues because of calf injury, had improved "a lot" in the past few days.

Dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes, who had only seven possessions but kicked two vital goals against Carlton, went into the game with an injury.

"He has got a bit of a sore groin at the moment. It flared up a little bit on Friday at training so he just wasn't able to get through the game as well as he'd like," Roos said of the midfielder.

"So hopefully that will settle down this week and he'll be a lot better on Saturday night.

With six rounds remaining, Sydney (42) have a six-point break on Collingwood who are fifth.

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