Pyke ready for some tough calls

ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke is expecting some hard decisions at the selection table this week as some stars return and vice-captain Rory Sloane races the clock in a bid to recover from appendix surgery.

Pyke yesterday remained optimistic Sloane would suit up for Thursday night’s home qualifying final against Greater Western Sydney after he walked laps and did some light handball drills at a training session on Sunday.

“He’s still a chance to play,” Pyke said.

“Obviously we will be guided by how he’s feeling but also by the surgeon and the doctors’ view on what the risk might be.”

Sloane had an emergency appendectomy last Tuesday.

Pyke said it was too hard to tell where he was at with his progress, using the example of teammate Eddie Betts who missed just the one match following removal of a burst appendix in July before excelling in Showdown 43 against Port Adelaide.

“I remember when Eddie had it, I looked at him about five days out and I thought he was a really small chance but he came good really quickly after he started moving.”

The Crows are set to regain captain Taylor Walker (toe), defender Daniel Talia (ankle) and midfielder Hugh Greenwood (soreness) and Pyke said there were going to be some unlucky players who would miss the match.