Quite literally, it appears a battle of two AFL teams using band-aids to cover the most critical of injuries.

But despite Hawthorn and Adelaide being without the irreplaceable Cyril Rioli and Taylor Walker respectively at AAMI Stadium on Saturday, Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson doesn’t concede the absence of either will ultimately influence the result.

“Any coach will tell you crisis creates opportunity,” Clarkson said on Friday.

“Taylor’s a very, very good player. We’re obviously aware that him being out of the side helps us a little bit, but (replacement Shaun) McKernan is also a very good player who’s been waiting for his chance.

“We’re expecting him to come in and be a very formidable opponent.

“Cyril’s a special player for us, but injuries happen in this game.

“Cyril missing will hurt us, but every side cops injuries at some stage of the year, and you’ve just got to make do with what you’ve got when you miss those guys.”

Key forward Walker is out for the season with a knee injury, while Rioli’s troublesome hamstring snapped as he sprinkled four goals of magic dust over North Melbourne last weekend.

He faces at least seven weeks on the sidelines.

But Hawthorn regain ultra-consistent midfielder Brad Sewell after three weeks out with a hamstring injury.

The Hawks will also give ex-Geelong defender Jonathan Simpkin a club debut after he excelled during the pre-season but was unable to immediately force his way into Hawthorn’s best 22.

“He’s found it tough to get in the side in the early part, because we had a lot of our players up and going,” Clarkson said.

“Brad’s missed three games – we only thought he was going to miss one – and we’ve missed his presence and grunt.”

Adelaide will no doubt still harbour memories of last season’s agonising preliminary-final loss to the Hawks by less than a goal.

But more pressing is their need to bulk up an anaemic 2-3 win-loss record, in which they have only beaten strugglers Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs.

The Crows have made three changes.

As well as McKernan for Walker, experienced Jason Porplyzia and recent SANFL star Jarryd Lyons step in for axed Jared Petrenko and Rory Laird, who has not recovered from a badly corked thigh sustained last week.