Adelaide coach Neil Craig has quashed rumours that ill defender Scott Stevens is on the verge of retiring from the AFL.

Stevens hasn't played since round one, troubled by ongoing headaches and nausea.

The symptoms are a repeat of last year, when Stevens missed four games after being concussed in the season opener.

Craig met Stevens on Wednesday and said rumours about the 144-gamer contemplating retirement were false.

"All he's worrying about is feeling better again and wanting to play, there was no discussion at all about retirement," Craig said on Thursday.

Stevens was suffering "mild symptoms of post concussion", he said.

"His history has been that he takes longer than most people to settle down from concussion," Craig said.

"We won't even consider playing him until he feels right irrespective of all the tests he's had.

"And he's had a lot of tests and all those have come back in a very positive manner which gives him great confidence.

"In the end it's going to get down to when Scott feels he's ready to play."

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