The Crows will host North Melbourne in an elimination final on Saturday week after sliding to fifth on the ladder with the 29-point loss to the Eagles.

Adelaide had been favourites to win but veteran midfielder Richard Douglas says the Crows won’t dwell too much on squandering a top-four finish.

“We made a pact to each other that come Monday morning, we’ll be pretty positive,” Douglas said yesterday.

“There’ll be a couple of days off here and there to, I guess, freshen up both physically and mentally.

“We’re still in the hunt. We believe our best footy’s good enough and we’ll look to get back to our best footy against the Roos.”

Douglas said the extra wait before the Crows could redeem themselves was frustrating but would help with the recovery of some sore players.

Adelaide will welcome back star on-baller Rory Sloane from a one-week suspension, while influential defender Brodie Smith is set to return from concussion.

Sloane, in particular, shapes as a key inclusion after Adelaide’s midfield were dominated at stoppages in his absence against West Coast.

“Their pressure’s outstanding,” Douglas said of the Eagles.

“That’s something we pride ourselves in and I guess they just did it better than us.

“Obviously, we knew what was at stake and it was a big game for both teams.

“I couldn’t question the boys’ effort at all, it was just that we got outplayed in a few key areas.”

Douglas was one of Adelaide’s better performers against West Coast, finishing with 19 disposals and two goals.

The 29-year-old last year extended his contract through to the end of 2018.

-AAP