Dawson missed the Crows' one-point win over St Kilda last Saturday night following the death of his brother in the family's home town of Robe in South Australia's south-east.
The 29-year-old trained on Thursday and has been named in Adelaide's extended squad for Sunday's match.
"He trained with Robe a couple of days ago, went out to the local footy club and had a run around, which was great for him to to get around loved ones and a lot of guys he's grown up with," Crows coach Matthew Nicks told reporters at Adelaide's West Lakes headquarters on Thursday.
"So he's been getting out and staying active.
"But today we'll just be checking to see where he's at physically and mentally, and then a decision will be one we make together post the session to see how he's going.
"I'm pretty sure he's really keen to join the group again, but we'll see."
Nicks said Dawson, who watched his team down the Saints from the grandstand, had remained "strong" amid the family tragedy.
"It's a really tough time ... and he's working his way through it; it's a challenging time," he said.
"It was pretty tough for him there the other night watching, but I was really proud of the way that the footy club and our supporters and our members, everyone got around and showed their respect."
Alex Neal-Bullen, who captained the Crows in Dawson's absence, has been ruled out with injury.
Dawson's fellow midfielder Jake Soligo, who missed the Saints game because of an ankle injury, will also sit out another week.
Nicks confirmed young gun Dan Curtin would make his comeback in state league ranks after dislocating a knee during a wrestling drill at training in January.
"DC is looking strong," he said.
"We struggle to hold him back now, he's a beast, he wants to get in and play and compete."
For the Lions, ruckman Darcy Fort, Conor McKenna, James Tunstill, Shadeau Brain and Darragh Joyce have been picked in an extended squad, replacing injured premiership pair Noah Answerth and Jarrod Berry.
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