The rest of the roster features several new faces and, as Vickerman builds his own team after last season inheriting one from Andrej Lemanis, the coach likes what he sees.
"I think it has been good for the confidence of the whole group," Vickerman said of the opportunities created by the injury issues. "We asked all [the new] guys to step up - having Duane Bailey come in, seeing Tai Wesley and Ekene [Ebekwe] get those good early minutes and seeing what they can contribute to the team.
"And now, as people come back, we've just got to make sure we slightly adjust everybody's role and expectations."
There will certainly be some adjustment tomorrow night. For one, Corey Webster is set to play a full part, having shaken off the knock to the back that limited the guard against Perth.
Vickerman was hopeful a fully fit Webster, having also recovered from an earlier ankle ailment, would start now to display the form he showed while with the Tall Blacks.
"He scored well in the preseason and he wasn't in as good a shape as he's in right now - I thought the ankle was hurting him more in the preseason. So now he's dealt with the back injury, he's dealt with the ankle, and I think he's ready to go."
Abercrombie is another step behind Webster but will suit up against Adelaide, set to play four or five minutes a quarter as he increases his fitness following surgery to remove a sports hernia. Whether Abercrombie starts is another matter, with Reuben Te Rangi, who filled in against Perth, due in court tomorrow for sentencing on an assault charge stemming from the offseason.
"I haven't made that call yet," Vickerman said. "We'll get through shootaround and we'll get through Reuben tomorrow and see how he is, then make that decision."
Pledger, another under an injury cloud, was absent from training today due to the flu, but his crocked toe is of more concern. As it was last week - and as it will continue to be for the foreseeable future - the extent of Pledger's involvement will be determined on game night.
