SIMPLY put, to have any chance of making the top eight Adelaide needs to beat St Kilda on Sunday and it needs to win big.

Locked in a five-team battle for eighth spot, the Crows require Richmond and Collingwood to lose and then need to make up 4.5 per cent on West Coast to make the eight.

Ruckman Sam Jacobs is well aware of the task at hand but said it was too risky to prepare for the match with a certain margin in mind.

With the Eagles/Gold Coast game set to unfold during Adelaide's match, the club will know the winning margin required to qualify for the finals.

Jacobs wasn't sure whether players would be kept up to date during their game, but he was certain such thoughts wouldn't be part of their preparation.

"I don't think you can afford to look at it that way, we've got enough respect for St Kilda that we'll worry about winning the game first," Jacobs said.

"We'll prepare like we have all year.

"Whether 'Sando' [coach Brenton Sanderson] decides to let us know what the situation is or not, that'll be up to him during the game.

"But as players you just worry about getting yourself right and getting yourself up for another game."

Adelaide dropped another opportunity to maintain its place in the eight at the weekend, losing to North Melbourne by just seven points.

It was the Crows' sixth loss this year by two goals or less.

Even though the string of close losses suggested the side was around the mark, Jacobs said they also exposed the playing group's lack of composure.

"It shows we are in the games, and I think in all of those you'll find that we have been in front at some stage," he said.

"It comes back to our poise and composure and we haven't been able to execute when it really matters.

"You can practice it all you want … but until you're actually in the position that's the best experience for it.

"The competition's that even now that you're coming up in that position every week, and if you can't do it you're going to find yourself in a position which we're in at the moment."

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