Taylor Walker takes great pride in Adelaide hosting Gather Round – and the Crows kicking it off.

Now it’s on the Crows to end their run of slow starts, hit the ground running against Carlton and remind the footy world why the prized event should stay put in South Australia.

Adelaide and Carlton will open the showpiece round at Adelaide Oval – and Walker hopes it’s not for the final time in SA as negotiations and haggling continue over its future.

“We’re grateful as a footy club that we can open up Gather Round on a Thursday night,” Walker said.

“We’re pretty chuffed that SA have been able to have it for four years.

“Hopefully we can get a deal done for a long period of time because when’s something’s not broken you don’t need to fix it.

“We’re doing a great job here in South Australia – we get to showcase what a beautiful state this is and most of the teams enjoy being over here and playing in Gather Round. So let’s lock it away for a long time.”

Walker played down concerns over the Crows’ costly sluggish starts against the Western Bulldogs, Geelong and Fremantle.

Adelaide regain Isaac Cumming, Rory Laird and Mitch Hinge while Luke Nankervis has been recalled.

“We’ve had a look at some reasons why we’re slow starting but we’ll try and fix it as much as we can,” Walker said.

“… Looking forward to getting a bit of experience back and hitting the ground running on Thursday night.”

Luke Pedlar (concussion) misses out while Reilly O’Brien, defender Hugh Bond and Chayce Jones were dropped.

The battling Blues are up against it with Jacob Weitering and Harry Dean (both concussion) unavailable and Will Hayward suspended.

Experienced Blues midfielder George Hewett was dropped for Thursday’s massive clash.

The Blues are without vice-captain Jacob Weitering (concussion), young defender Harry Dean (concussion) and Will Hayward (suspension), but regain Zac Williams and Nick Haynes while Hudson O’Keeffe comes in.

Spearhead Harry McKay is determined to show a new-look forward line, following Charlie Curnow’s departure, can kick a winning score.

“It was obviously gonna be different without Charlie, one of the best in the competition, but I’ve absolutely loved the new dynamic in the forward line,” he said.

“I think we brought some really awesome players and people in and obviously it’ll take a little bit of time to fully, I guess, flower as a forward line.

“But yeah, really enjoying the new guys we’ve brought in … (it) definitely has seen a bit more of a dynamic forward line.”

-with AAP