PORT Adelaide great Kane Cornes believes North Melbourne must be ruthless in selection ahead of its elimination final against Adelaide in a fortnight.

And Drew Petrie is first on the chopping block.

The veteran — who was last week told 2016 would be his last at Arden Street — managed just four disposals and one tackle against GWS on Saturday night.

“I’m not sure you can play Petrie after that (performance in Round 23),” Cornes told AFL Tonight.

Finals Week 1

“He’s played every game this season and it would be a massive call for one of the absolute champions to end his career like that.”

Coach Brad Scott may face a selection conundrum if Jarrad Waite passed fit to play. The ex-Blue has not taken the field since Round 19 due to a hip injury and was listed as ‘Test’ this week.

But with another fortnight to recover, Scott and his match committee will have to weigh up whether they can carry Ben Brown, Majak Daw, Petrie and Waite in the same forward line.

Petrie, 33, has booted 27 goals from 22 outings this season. He was held to just six disposals in each game against the Crows.

“If it was between Petrie and Majak Daw, well you’d think Daw was pretty impressive with his seven marks and one goal (against GWS),” Cornes said.

“Majak can also go into the ruck which could test Adelaide at times when Goldstein is having a rest.

“For the balance of their side, if Waite is fit, Petrie is probably the unlucky player ... you have to go all out in finals.”

Drew Petrie. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy) Source: AAP

North Melbourne finished eighth on the ladder after winning its first nine games of the season this year.

Although they have reach preliminary finals in each of their past two campaigns from outside the top four, Cornes does no expect the Kangaroos to progress any further than week one this September.

“Clearly North is in a lot of strife,” he said.

“You’d think they are just making up the numbers in the finals, limping to the line. You’d think Adelaide would beat them easily.”

The Crows host the Kangaroos on Saturday night, September 10.

Tom Morris is on Twitter: @tommorris32