Adelaide coach Don Pyke has explained the decision to recall experienced duo Josh Jenkins and Bryce Gibbs ahead of Saturday night's clash with Melbourne.

Jenkins has not played AFL since Round Four, while Gibbs has twice been dropped from AFL ranks this season, including last weekend's game.

Pyke said Gibbs' response to his latest omission had been encouraging.

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"He is in really good spirits so there's no reason to suggest he's not capable of performing tomorrow night," Pyke told reporters at Adelaide Airport.

"These guys have also got a lot of experience and have played some really good footy at a high level.

"So they're not reaching for something that they have never experienced. They know they're good enough to play at the level and they're in the side to do that."

Pyke also said forward Tom Lynch still needed to tick off a couple of fitness boxes ahead of the game.

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Emergencies David Mackay and Riley Knight flew with the Crows side to Darwin on Friday morning, with Pyke admitting some doubts over "a couple of guys".

"Tom is one of them, yeah," Pyke said.

Lynch, a late withdrawal from Adelaide's side which lost to West Coast last week because of hamstring soreness, has been named for the clash with the Demons.

Pyke did not name the other players in doubt, but said taking two emergencies to Darwin was a precaution.

OPPO: Trio of inclusions

Final selection decisions would be made after Adelaide's training session in Darwin later on Friday.

"There's a couple of guys that probably just need a run to tick off finally they're ready to go," Pyke said.

Adelaide has lost consecutive games to slide to seventh on the ladder, and Pyke was wary of Melbourne despite the Demons being 16th with just three wins this season.

"We sit here at five (wins) and five (losses) – are we happy? No, we're not," Pyke said.

"We want to be better than that and we think we're capable of being better than that.

"The last two weeks, we lose by a point (to Brisbane), we lose by two goals (to the Eagles).

"The reality is, against the best teams we just need to do it for longer."