Adelaide AFL star Kurt Tippett's race to round one is off to the most tentative of starts.

Tippett, who injured an ankle in the Crows' less-than-perfect AFL practice match a fortnight ago in which four players were hurt, returned to training in Adelaide on Friday.

But after shedding a moon boot protecting the ankle, the ruck-forward barely broke out of a walk as he was restricted to light handball drills.

The Crows remain cautiously optimistic they will be able to make Tippett their forward focal point for the season opener against Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium next weekend.

But coach Neil Craig says he will need to run and train fully next week ahead of the match, to be considered.

"There's a chance. He'll be close, but he's not out of the picture," Craig said.

"Often when people see moon boots they tend to panic a bit, but that's really been just to give the ankle an opportunity to heal.

"If he can start to run and put some real force through it, he'll be a chance to come up."

The news is better for midfielder Brodie Martin and versatile tall Ricky Henderson, who were also injured in the practice match against Carlton.

Both are expected to play for their SANFL clubs this weekend.

Martin's inclusion for Sturt would complete a remarkable good news story after initial fears he would require a second knee reconstruction.

Martin has trained strongly all week and is among several Crows auditioning to run off a half-back flank against Hawthorn, competing with ex-Richmond new boy Richard Tambling and youngster Brodie Smith.

Henderson has shaken off concussion from a heavy hit by Carlton's Michael Jamison and should he perform well, could also win a round one call-up.

Midfielder Bernie Vince and forward Matthew Jaensch have also been granted permission to play in the SANFL this weekend.

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