Controversial Crow is hitting fresh heights: coach

But Matthew Nicks doubts the star Crow's increased professionalism is linked to wanting to repay the club for its support during his turbulent end to last season.

"No, I don't think it relates to any of how the year finished," Nicks told AAP.

"I think it has probably been being around Alex Neal-Bullen and Jordan Dawson, and even Cal Ah Chee coming in for a short period of time, and being able to see and work with others.

"Our guys, we have a really connected group, a really strong group that look after each other.

"So I think feeling the love from his teammates and the support there has probably inspired him.

"And I can't speak for Izak. I just know and see what I see.

"He wants to get back and he wants to play footy again. That is his passion and that is what he loves."

Rankine remains suspended from premiership games after being banned for four matches for making a homophobic slur in an August 16 clash against Collingwood last year.

He missed Adelaide's last home-and-away game and two finals -  the Crows lost both to tumble out of the play-offs after being minor premiers.

Rankine's ban ends after Adelaide's opening premiership-season fixture, against Collingwood at the MCG on March 14.

"We all make mistakes," Nicks said.

"But he had 100 per cent support from us around the human, who he is as a person, and we were there for him.

"He's part of our family. And so we went straight into whatever we needed to do to help him through what was going to be a pretty tough time because it played out how it played it out.

"There is still a little bit more to go because, who would have thought, we play Collingwood round one, but he will miss that round.

"He is doing everything possible at the moment to train with the group, he has taken his professionalism to another level when it comes to his preparation for this season."

In the aftermath of his suspension, the Crows sent Rankine to Italy to avoid an intense spotlight in Adelaide.

Rankine returned to watch his teammates in the finals, when the Crows sorely missed his on-field talents.

Nicks forecast the game-breaker, on return to action, would again be deployed in a dual midfield-forward role.

"We will continue to look at where do we feel like we can make the most of his skill set," Nicks said. 

"We would love to keep him near that ball as much as possible.

"But then there's who else is going through (the midfield), who is playing ahead of the ball, who is going to finish our work off when we need it.

"He can kick goals from the midfield.

"And he has done a fair bit through preseason right through that midfield because we know we need to get that work into him.

"It's a taxing position and you really need to have an engine - he has got it, but there is training at making sure he's at the level.

"Again, we will see. Similar to Josh (Rachele) we will work through the preseason games and get a feel for it."

Australian Associated Press