Adelaide ruckman Reilly O'Brien said he'd be shocked to be at any other club beyond 2025 ahead of his contract call.
O'Brien has been the Crows' number one ruck for the past five years, holding the position since Sam Jacobs departed after the 2019 campaign.
The 29-year-old has played 121 games since being taken as a rookie in 2014, and will look to extend his reign as an elite tap ruckman.
"Lots of guys go through it so it's a matter of just playing your best footy," O'Brien said on Monday.
"I love this club, so I'm looking forward to it playing out. But as always, just focused on putting my best foot forward."
The intrigue around O'Brien's future comes as Adelaide has all but confirmed its desire to lure Essendon ruckman Sam Draper to the club.
Draper, like O'Brien, enters 2025 with a looming contract decision.
If the Crows were to get their man, it could open the door for O'Brien to explore rival options, with multiple Victoria clubs in desperate need of an established ruck.
Nevertheless, the 2020 Malcolm Blight medallist is attempting to turn around his inconsistent 2024 season, which saw him dropped to the SANFL.
But O'Brien's resurgence toward one of the competition's best ruckmen has been encouraged by the new-look midfield group at West Lakes.
The additions of James Peatling and Sid Draper to the Crows have added another "element" that could "take us to another level", while the opposition should prepare for Izak Rankine to spend more time in the centre.
"Adding James Peatling over the summer, Izak Rankine is spending more time in there and then Sid Draper rolling through, (the midfield group) is batting deep, which is really important," O'Brien said.
"The best teams bat really deep in the midfield and we certainly have added different elements in there... got some serious speed, some fast feet, which really helps us.
"Those three guys I mentioned, that's their strength. And then we have guys who bring in the grunt, which can take us to another level as a midfield."
O'Brien noted there is a "buzz" around West Lakes, which has been stimulated by a healthy list and an impressive pair of outings.
Adelaide has been starved of finals since their disastrous 2017 grand final loss to Richmond, subsequently placing pressure on coach Matthew Nicks to deliver as he enters his sixth season in charge.
Albeit in the pre-season, the Crows got early bragging rights over their cross-town rivals in an unofficial match simulation before taking down the reigning premiers by three points in the Community Series.
But a key part of the summer training has been working through game-like scenarios, and in particular, "executing in tight games".
"We've done a lot of work on (scenarios)," O'Brien added.
"The last few years, we've let ourselves down in those close games, so being able to execute under pressure and in tight games is definitely something we've been working on.
"It was pleasing to be able to do that against real opposition."
Adelaide will kick off their 2025 campaign with a Round 1 clash against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval.
