'Reward for hard work': Adelaide coach has finals ace

And Nicks can't wait to use it, knowing Izak Rankine enters his first finals campaign in rare form.

Rankine was serving a ban for a homophobic remark for Adelaide's ill-fated finals campaign last year.

The Crows crashed out with consecutive losses, not winning a quarter in a dramatic downturn for the minor premiers.

This year, Rankine tuned up for his finals debut by torching GWS with 35 disposals, four goals, three goal assists, and a dozen clearances in a 56-point win.

The 26-year-old had 10 score involvements all-up, plus 17 contested possessions.

Those imposing numbers follow returns of 39 disposals and a goal, and 36 and a goal.

"He has been doing some stuff that the last few weeks that we just love.

"He's getting reward for that hard work, he's building cohesion with our rucks, connecting with our midfielders."

Adelaide's soon-to-be-retired great Taylor Walker booted six goals before a parochial 52,332-strong crowd at his last home-and-away game.

The club's all-time leading scorer booted three majors in an opening 10-minute burst that set the tone for Adelaide securing a top-six slot and avoid the wildcard finals.

"We get another chance to be fresh, 14 days or thereabouts ... that will be a bonus for big Texan," Nicks said.

"There's no doubt, when he's able to be fresh - we saw it against Collingwood, we saw it again tonight, especially when we gave him an opportunity in that first quarter. Yeah, he's not a bad player."

The Crows banked their highest score of the season - 24.13 (157) - against the Giants with Nicks adamant his team has the attacking force to win finals.

"If that says we have got to move the ball a little bit more and take some risks - we have got no fear with that.