Hoppers confident they will click as they look to recover from tight losses

Touted as the premiership favourites by many before the season began, a big loss to Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong and tight defeats to Turvey Park and Collingullie-Glenfield Park over the past month have lowered their credentials.

Now only third ahead of the Demons on percentage, the Hopper have made a handful of changes with Ryan Cox, Tennyson Vance and Alex Carroll dropped to reserves, with Bayden Leary, Will Graetz and debutant Jade Curtis promoted.

They remain without Jeremy Sykes after he missed last week through illness, ruck Anthony Atkin is also still out injured and Nick Buchanan (hamstring) won't play for a second straight game.

The Crows will travel to Kindra Park full of belief after backing up a three-point loss to Wagga Tigers with a easy win over Griffith last week.

Coolamon has installed a co-coaching partnership between Barrett and Mark Carroll this year, and Barrett doesn't believe they're far away from playing to their potential.

"It was close all game (against Demons last week) but a bit of our structure fell apart in that last quarter, it wasn't an effort thing," Barrett said.

"We had a little talk after the game but we didn't say much on the track, we just wanted to get back out there and respond.

"We're not hitting the panic button just yet, we've had three games where we've lost by a goal. If we were being beaten by 40 points, you'd start to question yourself a bit more.

"We tell the boys that if we stick to our game plan, the tight games will take care of themselves. That's what we fell away from a bit in the last quarter, but we all know that and have got around one another."

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Barrett does know they have to start clicking soon as they launch a run into the finals.

"It's still early and we are still third, it's not all doom and gloom for us. We have to make sure we're ready this weekend," he said.

"Jeremy Sykes has been a bit sick lately and we're missing some key players who would help us in those games.

"But in saying that we've got great depth, we're just not clicking the way we should be at the moment.

"The most disappointing thing is we know we've got a good side there, we just have to start utilising it now."

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