Adelaide's AFL pre-season has been beset by storm clouds, both figurative and literal.

They are hopeful that both kinds will clear during Friday's afternoon practice match against Carlton in Melbourne, as the coaching staff seek dry conditions in which to gauge their game plan for 2010.

The progression of the AFL from a rough and tumble affair on muddy suburban ovals to a precise tactical science has never been more painfully demonstrated than by the repeated complaints of Crows coach Neil Craig and his assistants that they will be unable to assess their ball movement until they get a dry day.

A torrential downpour in Alice Springs against Collingwood was followed by wind and intermittent rain against Melbourne at Elizabeth Oval, meaning the club's eyes will be on the weather forecast for Friday - so far all is set fair.

"Hopefully we'll get some dry conditions, which would be great, we've lacked any dry conditions to have a look at our ball movement and the way we want to play the game of footy," said defensive coach Ben Hart on Thursday.

"First and foremost for us (we want to see) the competitive nature, games are coming up for four points so that's got to be high on the agenda, and then it is just working on things we've done over pre-season so our ball movement and what we want to do when we win the ball in certain areas.

"We need to see it because a lot of the games through the year you do get dry conditions, and we probably often have said we never get the opportunity to test ourselves in wet conditions, but we've had a few of those.

"Counting our round one pre-season cup (game), our attitude wasn't right so we didn't really see what we were after, and the next two games have been pretty wet and slippery, so now is the chance to have a look at our ball movement.

"All teams are doing it, the way they move the ball against zones, man-on-man etc. So we need to test ourselves on that as well, so dry weather will help us."

A surfeit of injuries has left numerous holes in the Crows' first 22 ahead of round one, but there have been good signs for midfielder Nathan van Berlo, who will play half an SANFL practice match for South Adelaide on the weekend as he fights his way back from a nagging back problem.

Bernie Vince is also regaining his touch at a decent rate, and should play an SANFL match in the gap week between the end of the pre-season cup and the first round of the home and away season.

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