Adelaide coach Neil Craig has done as much by describing the Tigers in much the same terms as the Blues ahead of Sunday's AFL top eight-shaping encounter at AAMI Stadium.

Narrow victors over a fast-finishing Carlton at home last Saturday, Craig expects the Tigers to offer the same kind of threat.

This week, as last week, Adelaide are up against a young team below them on the ladder but straining to squeeze into this year's finals.

This week, as last week, that team contains a core of top class talent capable of wresting the match from the Crows' grasp.

And this week, as last week, Adelaide's attack will be composed of a patchwork quilt of options - probably including the recalled Graham Johncock - requiring plenty of help from the midfield to make it dangerous.

While Terry Wallace has been able to add a chameleon's touch to Richmond's style, depending on the opponent and the conditions, Craig expected them to maintain the aggressive spirit briefly successful against Geelong last round.

"It's been a bit of their style, they change from week to week depending on the opposition, which is a credit to Terry," Craig said.

"(But) I would think their form the last six weeks has been really good, Geelong beat them by 10 goals. But if you look at that game they actually played some quite attacking and attractive footy.

"I'd be surprised if they deviated from that style, not dissimilar to Carlton's, with the talent they've got and the ability to play fast football and run the ball."

Fast football appeared to catch the Crows out in the last term when numerous rapid centre clearances, notably by an otherwise quiet Chris Judd, threatened to hand the game to Carlton.

While hesitant to admit his team had been beaten for speed, Craig agreed that more attention had to be paid in the middle this week.

"It was more from the centre bounce they generated that," he said.

"They got some relatively easy ball out of the centre square, probably three in a row at one stage, and that's when it looks quicker."

The Crows put together a storming second half to comfortably account for the Tigers at the MCG earlier this year, and able to adequately counter the influence of reborn wingman Matthew Richardson.

That day his opponents ranged from Nathan Bock to Scott Stevens and even Michael Doughty, and Craig flagged another ensemble tagging effort on Sunday.

"It's certainly something we need to be mindful of because he can be really damaging, particularly with his aerial work," Craig said.

"We need to have people ready to take him in certain areas of the ground."

Adelaide's match committee have elected not to hand an immediate recall to injury-prone midfielder Brent Reilly following his knee strain, meaning Andy Otten will make his second league appearance while Reilly finds fitness and form for Sturt in the SANFL.

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