Victory come into the Coopers Stadium clash fresh off a 4-0 loss to Melbourne City, just as the Wanderers had been thrashed 4-0 by Sydney FC the week before they beat Adelaide 2-1 in the last round.
"Victory will be hurting after that big loss and they'll come out firing, just like Western Sydney," Elrich told The World Game.
"I'm sure [Wanderers coach Tony] Popovic revved them up, as you would've seen from some of the tackles in that game.
"It would've been enforced into the team to go out there and put the big hits on and show that they want to be there."
Adelaide were incensed at tackles by Wanderers left-back Jack Clisby on winger Sergio Cirio and by substitute striker Brendon Santalab on midfielder James Holland, which only drew yellow cards when many thought they should have been red.
Cirio was hurt in the tackle and is out for up to 10 weeks with a knee injury.
Adelaide-Victory clashes have been known to get physical in the past and the Reds are steeling themselves for the possibility of that sort of encounter.
"This week will be no different to last week knowing [Victory coach Kevin] Muscat, the sort of coach who is very good at revving his players up," Elrich said.
"This will be a fiery challenge and an encounter that will show our team character as well."
Sydney FC and Melbourne City had already raised the bar this season with their brilliant form in the first two rounds.
Elrich said defending premiers and champions Adelaide couldn't afford to make a similar start to last season, when they didn't win in the first eight rounds, and hope to be a factor at the business end.
"Even though it's only two rounds in, I can't see Sydney FC and Melbourne City slipping up and losing too many games," he said.
"Last season, the Premier's Plate came down to the last round and despite our bad start to the season we managed to win it.
"But Sydney FC and Melbourne City have got too much quality and too much depth for anyone to give them much of a head-start."
