Debutant Geelong forward Mitch Brown has been tipped to make a big impression in the AFL as he prepares for his debut against Adelaide at Skilled Stadium on Sunday.

Brown, 20, has been cruelled by injury in his first two years at the Cats - with a broken leg and shoulder problem stalling him in 2009 and 2010.

But Brown has launched in his third year, booting bagfuls in the club's reserves and finally earning his call-up to an injury-hit senior side for the clash with the Crows.

Cats assistant coach James Rahilly said Brown had only played 12 games at VFL level in three seasons so frequent were his injuries.

But he would be worth the wait as Geelong desperately seek a quality forward target.

"He's a really smart forward. He's one of those forwards that leads up and seems to find the ball," Rahilly told AAP.

"He's got a lot of skills, he can fly for marks.

"He's a beautiful kick for goal, and this is saying a bit with Paul Chapman in the team - he's one of our best shots for goal."

Brown was the Cats' first round draft choice in the 2008 national draft, and finally gets his chance with a slew of players injured and suspended.

Top of the list is Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel, who was ruled out of the clash on Saturday due to concussion, while doubts remain over James Kelly (ankle).

Bartel has been replaced by Shannon Byrnes with Josh Cowan coming on the emergency list as the club is expected to make a final call on Kelly's fitness before Sunday's match.

Brown can look forward to an extended run in the senior side if he shows the quality his coaches expect.

"With all of our young guys we like to give them a couple of games to see how they go rather than give them one and take them straight out," he said.

"We'll see how holds up. He's only played 12 games of VFL so he's got plenty of improvement in him."

Adelaide are set to give 28-year-old forward Ian Callinan his debut against an unbeaten Cats side gunning for their 13th successive win.

A star in the South Australian competition for several years, the small forward was earmarked for a round one debut until tearing his bicep off the bone during pre-season.

The struggling Crows have slid into the bottom four, with just three wins from 12 matches.

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