Veteran spearhead Taylor Walker can't help but think about the magical 300-game mark, but his hopes could rest on Adelaide's ability to make the finals this season.

Walker is out of contract at the end of the year, and although he is playing well enough to earn a new deal, there are no guarantees.

The 35-year-old sits on 288 matches - a number that would have risen to 289 if he wasn't a late withdrawal from Sunday's 66-point win over West Coast.

After the match, coach Matthew Nicks said he was glad he rested Walker, and flagged another rest later in the season.

With Adelaide having just 12 more regular-season matches remaining, it means Walker could very well bring up game No.300 in the finals - assuming the Crows make it.

Adelaide (7-4) are well placed to end their eight-year finals drought after moving to fourth with their 19.14 (128) to 8.14 (62) defeat of the Eagles.

Walker, who has formed a strong partnership with fellow key forwards Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty, has kicked 18.11 from 10 games this season, including bags of four against North Melbourne and Gold Coast.

He was initially slated to play against West Coast, but Nicks made a decision on the morning of the match to rest him, with an eye to Saturday's trip to play Sydney.

"He's getting towards the latter part of his career," Nicks explained.

"Being able to manage him this week hopefully really freshens him up and we can have a crack at one of the toughest road trips.

"I'm glad we made it for this one (resting him against West Coast) and the guys were able to get the job done.

"You can talk about you don't want to flirt with your form. We'd love to play him every week, but we know that's not going to work.

"We want him at his best, and he'll need a few rests here and there - maybe another one in the latter part of the season."

Walker understands the need to be rested, but he's also made sure his coach knows where things sit in regards to the chase for game No.300.

"I'd be lying if we didn't say the word 300 came up in some of our conversations," Nicks said.

"That's natural. What a milestone. That would be great.

"I talk to him about, 'Wouldn't it be nice if we were able to play finals footy?'

"That's our priority at the moment, that's his priority as well.

"He wants this group to play finals footy. And then who knows, that might give him 300."

Walker has kicked 659 goals in a decorated career - the most by a Crow, and enough to place him 30th on the all-time VFL/AFL goalkicking list.