Three Crows are preparing to thwart Hawthorn dynamo Lance Franklin in their AFL season opener on Saturday night, Adelaide defender Phil Davis says.

The Franklin factor looms large in the AAMI Stadium fixture with his usual Adelaide opponent, Nathan Bock, no longer at the club.

Bock has defected to the Gold Coast, leaving 15-gamer Davis and experienced duo Ben Rutten and Scott Stevens contemplating how to stop the Hawk ace.

"For us back there, it's who comes in your area, you'll take," Davis said on Thursday.

"Ben, Scott Stevens or myself will take any forward ... and just rotate who best suits you at that time."

Rutten lacks the speed to counter the pace of Franklin, who weighs a whopping 15kg more than Stevens.

That leaves the 20-year-old Davis - a centimetre taller than Franklin but eight kilograms lighter - best physically-suited for the role.

"You just face him and do the best you can ... it will be a great opportunity for anyone who gets that role, he's a great forward," Davis said.

"It's exciting, you want to take on the best.

"All forwards I try and treat with the same amount of respect - and play your own game, I think that is the key against anyone."

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