THE Crows admit they're taking a punt by selecting just one ruckman against North Melbourne on Sunday.

The Crows have heaped pressure on first-choice ruck Sam Jacobs to take on the Kangaroos' tap-man Todd Goldstein at AAMI Stadium.

Adelaide omitted their back-up ruck Shaun McKernan for the clash in what assistant coach Scott Camporeale says is a calculated gamble.

"We are going to play around with a couple of things tomorrow," Camporeale told reporters on Saturday.

"But Goldstein plays virtually 95 per cent in the ruck so we will try and match him with Jacobs and go to head to head.

"It's a risk ... (but) we think the output of the second ruck hasn't really been effective for us.

"And North Melbourne are a really good running team so we have decided to go with an extra runner."

Adelaide recalled key midfielder Rory Sloane, who missed last week's loss to Port Adelaide with an eye injury, and defender Sam Shaw, who hasn't played all year because of a string of injuries.

The Crows dropped McKernan and Jarryd Lyons while the Kangaroos made one change, omitting Brad McKenzie in favour of debutant Taylor Garner.

Both clubs are destined to miss the finals, with 10th-placed North three wins outside the top eight and the Crows a win behind the Kangaroos in 13th spot.

"For us, if we can win four games then we're still a chance," Camporeale said.

"But we'll still learn a fair bit out of the last month in terms of how we want to play, whether it's this year or next year.

"We have still got a fair bit to improve so we'll keep chipping away at that stuff."

The last time they met, in round nine at Etihad Stadium, Adelaide trailed by five goals in the last quarter but stormed home for a one-point win but Camporeale wasn't expecting a similar shootout on Sunday.

"I don't think North Melbourne have changed too much in terms of their game style," he said.

"Obviously their defensive side of the game was, I guess, questioned during that period.

"But the way they're playing, they're better than where they are on the win-loss category. They are a quality team and we don't underestimate them."