Adelaide midfielder Brad Crouch wants to join AFL rivals St Kilda.
Crouch has told the Crows he wants to join the Saints as a restricted free agent.
Adelaide's 2019 club champion fell off-contract with the South Australian club at the end of their season and has been seeking a five-year deal elsewhere.
Under free-agency rules, the Crows can match St Kilda's offer for Crouch which would then force the clubs into a trade deal.
If Adelaide doesn't opt to match the offer, they will receive draft pick compensation from the AFL.
The Crows could be given pick No .2 at this year's draft if the Saints' offer is more than $700,000 a season.
"We don't know what the offer is," Adelaide board member Mark Ricciuto told Triple M radio.
"Generally speaking, to get a first-round pick (as compensation) you need to have four or five years on north of $700,000, $750,000.
"So you don't get that easy.
"Anything less than that, you might get an end of the first round or start of the second."
Adelaide also have the first pick at the draft after finishing last this season.
Crouch earlier this month was given a two-match suspension by the AFL after being caught in possession of an illicit drug, believed to be cocaine, in late September.
Crouch's future in Adelaide has been in question since the end of last season when he was linked with a move Gold Coast, only to remain at the Crows.
The 26-year-old this year was on the recruiting radar of Geelong as well as the Saints.