Adelaide’s AFLW coach Matthew Clarke isn’t buying into the theory that his Crows team will be the hunted during their premiership defence.

They begin their quest for consecutive flags on Saturday against Brisbane with both their co-captains – Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall – sidelined.

Phillips, recovering from a knee reconstruction, won’t play in the season-opener but is on the cusp of a return, though Randall will miss the season after also having a knee reconstruction last November.

Phillips, a dual winner of the AFLW’s best-and-fairest award, has earmarked round two as a possible return, but coach Clarke isn’t so certain.

“We need to be mindful and realistic that as much as she wants to get back really quickly, as much as we want her back really quickly, it’s ultimately going to be a medical decision,” Clarke told reporters on Thursday.

“The speculation will remain and that’s OK, that’s natural.

“Even though she’s driven and focused and wants to be there, she’s also pragmatic and a realist to know there are medical staff there to guide us because they have got great expertise.”

Clarke expected the fresh AFLW season to be notable for another boost in skills and fitness of players but doubted his defending premiers would be the hunted team.

“Obviously that gets thrown around a little bit,” he said.

“But from my perspective, the game starts and players just react to the contest ahead of them, so I don’t buy into it too much to be honest.

“That that might get put around and maybe some of our players are experiencing that (but) I haven’t seen it the way they have approached their training.”