Twin defensive towers Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass appear on target to return against Adelaide after training strongly at Optus Stadium on Thursday.

The big men were both absent from the past two victories against Fremantle and Hawthorn, with the versatile Oscar Allen and emerging tall Harry Edwards holding down the key posts.

Senior coach Adam Simpson will weigh up his mix of talls when star forward Josh Kennedy’s (calf) availability becomes clearer later in the week.

“Everyone at this stage that trained should be available, so Barrass and McGovern looked like they might be OK,” coach Adam Simpson said.

“Josh Kennedy did some laps but did the first couple of drills, so that’s pleasing.

“At this stage, most guys are putting their hands up. Liam (Ryan) and Shannon (Hurn) won’t play this week.”

After a hiding from Geelong, the Eagles have stepped up their intensity and effort across four quarters in the past two victories, resulting in an uptick in contested ball and inside 50 supply.

The Crows, who will rest gun forward Taylor Walker, have been plucky this season and the midfield battle looms large again with both teams missing key personnel.

Adelaide is without ball magnet Matt Crouch (groin), while the Eagles are missing Luke Shuey (hamstring), Elliot Yeo (groin) and Liam Duggan (knee).

 “We’ll just prepare for them at their best. They’re young and enthusiastic and they have a crack, so their intensity around the ball is really impressive, that’s our challenge,” Simpson said.

“They’re a younger side, their best is pretty good and they’ve had patches where they’ve lost momentum.

“We’re not too dissimilar to that ourselves.”

Sunday’s match will be the first since the Eagles’ round five win over Collingwood to be staged without a crowd capacity cap, and Simpson called on the blue and gold army to turn out in force.

“Great, let’s get 55,000 – and 100 Adelaide Crows supporters."