But the Crows coach says having experienced the finals pressure-cooker doesn't guarantee success against Hawthorn in Friday night's semi-final at Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, had only seven players with finals experience in last week's qualifying-final loss to Collingwood.
"It's incredible what you can learn in a week and what just being on that stage does," Nicks said.
"You can sit in the room (now) and say: 'OK, who has played finals footy - and every hand goes up. It's one game.
"We still know we've got so much still to work on. Every team does, let's be honest, no team is perfect.
"If we bring our best, we can beat anyone. If Hawthorn brings their best, they can beat anyone. So let's see who brings their best."
Nicks has recalled goalsneak Josh Rachele, who will make his comeback from a knee injury suffered on July 6, and dropped  defender Hugh Bond.
The Hawks, after rolling GWS by 19 points in an away elimination final, summoned Mitch Lewis to replace fellow forward Calsher Dear, who was ruled out because of a hamstring injury.
The Hawthorn change ensures a similar attacking structure based around veteran spearhead Jack Gunston and livewire small forwards Jack Ginnivan, Nick Watson and Connor McDonald.
"There's a number of challenges for us behind the ball this week, Hawthorn's forward line is very dynamic," Nicks said.
Nicks also noted the challenge of curtailing Hawk defenders James Sicily, Tom Barrass and Josh Battle.
The trio are renowned for marking prowess and meet a Crows side that conceded 28 intercept marks to Collingwood in the qualifying final.
"It was a combination of a lot of small things," Nicks said of that high number.
"Composure with the ball - and maybe that is the heat of finals footy.
"Is that perceived pressure that's coming from Collingwood or is it us putting pressure on ourselves? As well as just the way we structured up and what we look like ahead of the ball.
"Unfortunately, with a lot of things building up together, we didn't get it right last week.
"The best part about that is when you can sit down as a group and go through that and it's clear and we're precise on the areas we have got to be better at.
"Now the challenge is, can we do it under pressure, knowing that the Hawks will bring that pressure."
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