Cats star Stewart late out for Gather Round opener

The 32-year-old All-Australian is a late out for the second time in three weeks, after he pulled out of the clash with Brisbane in round three because of a knee injury.

He sustained that injury during the previous week's game against St Kilda.

Adelaide also had late drama when Izak Rankine went through a fitness test on his troublesome calf muscle less than one hour before the opening bounce.

The livewire forward spent time talking to club medical staff but was passed fit to play.

Clohesy and Zac Taylor are the starting substitutes.

The huge clash opens Gather Round in South Australia as Adelaide (3-1) look to bounce back from their first loss of the season - a controversial one-point defeat to Gold Coast.

The Cats (2-2) are chasing consecutive wins for the first time this year after beating Melbourne last week.