All-Australian defender Nathan Bock will have to find a way around the cautionary tale of Mark Ricciuto if he is to take part in Adelaide's 2009 AFL finals campaign.

The Crows played an unfit Ricciuto for the last time in the 2007 elimination final against Hawthorn, and after his battered body broke down early he watched helplessly from the interchange bench as the Hawks came from behind to win in the final minute.

Ricciuto's inclusion was far from the only mistake Adelaide's match committee made that day, but it was a hard lesson for coach Neil Craig and has left him understandably reticent to push Bock into the fray.

Bock's recovery from a fractured heel will go up a notch with his participation in the Crows' main training session on Tuesday night, where he will go from light running to full training if he is comfortable.

"Bocky will try and do some running in footy boots," Craig said on Tuesday.

"If that looks positive, he'll train. It's not out of the realm of possibility for Nathan to do full training tonight if we think it's appropriate.

"We know it's difficult to come back (from an injury lay-off) in the minor round competition let alone to come back when the best are playing the best, but hopefully that will be a decision we're faced with at some stage.

"It (bringing players back from injury in finals) can be one of the most difficult decisions to make because there's a sense of urgency in terms of the result and sometimes that can cloud your thinking.

"I think we've all been around long enough to know that to play unfit players when the best are playing the best, you do it at your peril.

"There may be a situation where you have to do it, but do it at your peril."

Another longterm absentee, self-confident ruckman Brad Moran (knee), will also train on Tuesday night, while Nathan van Berlo (back) and David Mackay (ankle) are scheduled to run lightly in order to give them maximum time to recover for Friday night's match against Essendon.

"Brad Moran is a bit different. He'll do a lot more tonight. He'll actually join in our full training session tonight, but he hasn't played for eight or so weeks so that's a big decision," said Craig.

"He's been very diligent in the way he's rehabilitated and you just never know in this industry. His aim is to get himself fully fit and ready to play if required.

"It would be useful for him to be available."

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