NORTH Melbourne will be wasting time and energy by trying to rough up Adelaide players in Thursday night's fixture, Crows defender Brodie Smith says.

The Crows are braced for North to attempt the same strong-arm tactics they used on Hawthorn last week in the top-eight shaping game at Adelaide Oval.

"They probably will, but we have just got to play footy," Smith told reporters on Wednesday.

"And if it's a contested game, we will go out and win the footy and we won't worry about anything of that other stuff off the ball.

"We're not worried about it. We won't have a focus on it. We will just worry about getting the footy and winning the game."

The third-placed Kangaroos travel to Adelaide after a week in the headlines, with North coach Brad Scott fined $30,000 and the club $50,000 by the AFL for alleging umpire bias after their nine-point loss to Hawthorn.

The Roos have also lost top spot after three defeats in their past four matches, and have a six-day turnaround to face the eighth-placed Crows, who are rested following their bye last weekend.

Wicked weather – thunderstorms, heavy rain and winds about 40kmh – are forecast for the encounter but Smith said the conditions wouldn't alter Adelaide's approach.

"The weather won't change a thing, we will still try and play our way," he said.

"If the wet weather comes in, it will be contested game. And we believe we are a good contested side and we'll back ourselves to get the job done in the wet."

The Kangaroos pipped the Crows by 10 points in round one but Smith said Adelaide were now vastly different proposition under first-year coach Don Pyke.

"We have definitely come a long way since round one, we have improved a lot," he said.

"We are still looking to improve but since that round one game, especially down back, we're playing a lot better together and everyone knows their role and is playing their role.

"It will take a team effort tomorrow night and that is what we're looking to do."