Adelaide coach Neil Craig is reluctant to name a comeback date for Simon Goodwin as the Crows' skipper struggles to overcome a knee injury from Round 11.

Goodwin was hopeful of making a miraculous return just a week after hurting himself but is now set to miss his third game as he watches his side tackle Richmond on Saturday from the sidelines.

Craig said the veteran's recovery was progressing but would not be rushed.

"He's getting better, he's done a really tough session on the bike," Craig said.

"I could say next week, but I've been saying that for the last couple of weeks so I'll keep my mouth shut."

"It's been good in one way, him not being available, because it puts some real responsibility on other areas of the ground."

"I'm seeing a real bonus when he does become available, one because of his playing ability but the leadership aspect is going to be really important for us."

"But what we don't want is to get him to play 80-90 per cent until we have to. We don't have to at the moment, it's important we get him back to 100 per cent, so he's not worrying about the knee at all."

Meanwhile forgotten forward Brett Burton will make his comeback in the SANFL this week, Craig saying the high-flying player wouldn't be holding back when he took to the field.

"Brett's not thinking a half (of footy), as you would expect because he doesn't do anything in halves," he said.

He's in the (Woodville-West Torrens) league side, which is great credit to Ron (WWT coach Ron Fuller) to do that for us. He's ready to play and if it means a full game of footy, let's go for it."

"He can't do anymore in terms of training and preparation, he even floated it past me a couple of weeks ago coming straight back into the AFL team which I half expected."

Turning his focus to Round 14 and Craig said his side would show no complacency when it tackles the struggling Tigers at the Gold Coast.

Craig said the opposition's ability to play in bursts and new defensive action under caretaker Jade Rawlings would provide a challenge.

"They have a great capacity to score quickly, they have had a lot of quarters were there have been seven or eight goals in a quarter and often when you do that, as we find out against the Western Bulldogs, that can be good enough to win you a game," he said.

"Some of the defensive things that were poor last week against Sydney, we can't afford to be poor in this week, because we are now playing a side which can score quickly."

"It's still a task for us to make the eight, if you look at our draw and the current form of sides, there's no guarantee we'll make the eight."