Shaun Burgoyne's likely shadow Michael Doughty predicts the Port Adelaide star will be in for a tough time when he returns to AFL duty in the showdown against Adelaide on Sunday.

Burgoyne has been out of action for 14 rounds with bone bruising below the knee, but Port's match committee have few qualms about recalling him directly to the team despite the extensive interruption to his season.

Power coach Mark Williams' pronouncement that "50 per cent of Shaun Burgoyne's better than 70 per cent of someone else" raised a few eyebrows for its unintentional denigration of other Port players, and Doughty said resuming in a showdown would be a difficult task.

The Crows suffered a similar experience last week when the much-hyped recall of Brett Burton after a knee reconstruction proved a damp squib against battle-hardened St Kilda.

"It's going to be tough for him," Doughty said on Thursday.

"I don't know how much work he's done, but he's a quality player and I'm sure they'll use him sparingly but when they use him he'll be quality for them."

Doughty expects to spend time tagging either or both of Burgoyne and winger Danyle Pearce, who has a strong recent record in games against Adelaide, winning the showdown medal in 2008 and kicking two goals round six this year.

That game saw the Power monster Adelaide in the contested ball and clearance stakes.

"Definitely contested ball and stoppages (are a focus), they gave us a flogging in both those areas, so we'll be setting ourselves this week to crack in and make sure we meet their level if not better it," said Doughty.

"It's mainly a mindset (issue), it's your intent on the ball and making sure on those high pressure games that are like a finals-type game that you're ready to go and put your head over the ball."

The Crows trained behind locked doors on Thursday, but Doughty revealed much of the session had been focused on contested and clearance work inspired by what they Crows had witnessed against the barnstorming Saints.

"We take a lot of things out of last week, they're a quality team and they showed us another level in terms of what we need to aspire to play finals footy, so we can take a lot out of last week," he said.

"We did a bit of that out at training today, which you weren't able to see, which was good, so I'm sure we'll bring it to the game this week."

Scott Stevens and Jason Porplyzia, both sore after suffering knocks on Sunday, were able to train without discomfort ahead of a fixture that has now been declared a sell-out.

Nathan van Berlo has been recalled to the Crows' 22 after a virus in place of David MacKay (hamstring strain).

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