Nathan Bock's push to be this year's AFL All-Australian centre half-back may be put on hold again this week as he is likely to line up in attack for Adelaide against Carlton.

The Crows' faltering forward line benefited greatly from the ability of he and Nick Gill to present themselves as legitimate targets last week at the SCG, and though he failed to kick straight, Bock appreciated his value as a yeoman forward rather than a starring backman.

"I did a little bit of stuff up forward at training today, so I suppose it just depends what (coach Neil Craig) feels I'm best suited for this week," Bock said.

"My preference, probably, this year would be to be playing centre half-back, but I do enjoy going forward.

"It's always good to kick a few goals and wherever I'm playing, I'm enjoying. If I'm enjoying it then I'm not complaining either way.

"If you look at the weekend, I suppose Craigie feels I'm probably more needed up forward, so I'm happy to fill any role I'm needed for.

"I need to do what's best for the team and if we're winning then I'm happy to play wherever."

Carlton are a team capable of great attacking potency, with a fleet of youngsters getting closer to the high standards of Chris Judd and Brendan Fevola, who is likely to be marked by Ben Rutten.

So to win Adelaide will need to be as free in attack as they are stingy in defence, creating a delicate balance between running and tagging across the middle of the park.

Robert Shirley is odds-on to go to Judd, while Nathan van Berlo, Michael Doughty and Bryce Campbell may all be given limiting tasks of varying shapes and sizes.

"We've got Robbie Shirley who does a great tagging job for us, so he'll either tag a Chris Judd or a Nick Stevens," Bock said.

"I think it's a bit of everything, so our defensive pressure all over the ground is going to go a long way in limiting the supply he gets.

"Shirls will probably have a big job, either against Judd or Stevens, and we'll back the rest of our midfielders in to, when they don't have the footy, put that pressure on and when we do get it, to put that offensive pressure against them."

Pressure is a key term at Adelaide, and the ability of players up-field to pressure the kicker is a large part of why Rutten has such an imposing record at full-back.

When left exposed by a lack of midfield accountability he can be exposed for a lack of leg speed, as Fevola aptly demonstrated during the Dream Team fixture.

"If you don't have that defensive pressure up the ground, it makes the supply or a defender's job that much harder," Bock said.

"We put huge demand on the defensive pressure our midfielders can put on up the ground, which when I do play down back, helps out immensely."

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