Adelaide coach Neil Craig wants to debunk an AFL myth.

Craig says it's ludicrous to suggest his Crows players want to defeat St Kilda on Saturday to fittingly farewell a crop of retiring stalwarts.

Captain Simon Goodwin, champion Andrew McLeod, high-flyer Brett Burton and club favourite Trent Hentschel will all wave goodbye to their adoring home crowd at AAMI Stadium from the back of a ute.

Craig says the quartet have been acknowledged by their teammates this week, but their departures won't provide extra motivation against the finals-bound Saints.

"It is a football myth," Craig said.

"The reality is, in high-performance sport if you go down that path it can last for about five minutes.

"I can guarantee you that if we went down that path there will be a point early in the game when one of our players goes for a contested ball - and he will not be thinking of Goodwin, McLeod, Hentschel or Burton.

"That is why we don't play that card - I have never seen it win and it can create so much disappointment if that is your sole purpose in playing."

The retirees have backed the message, Craig said.

"They have not asked the group to win for them," he said.

"It's about the future of our club ... and our group was clear we're not playing necessarily for those four guys, it is about how we go about our business."

Adelaide's gloomy season ends by missing the finals for the first time since 2004 - the highest the Crows can finish is 10th.

The third-placed Saints are fine-tuning for a qualifying final against Geelong, a fixture that won't change regardless of weekend results.

The Saints have made four changes from their side which downed Richmond last start.

Elusive forward Adam Schneider could not be considered due to a corked thigh, while fringe players Sean Dempster, Adam Pattison and Nick Heyne have made way for an experienced foursome.

Onballer Lenny Hayes, key defender Zac Dawson, negator Clinton Jones and ruckman Michael Gardiner have been recalled.

Their presence gives the Saints an ominous appearance, with only Schneider and Steven Baker (fractured toe) missing from their best 22.

The Saints have only that duo, Raphael Clarke, Robert Eddy and Jesse Smith on their injured list.

In contrast, Adelaide couldn't consider 16 players for their last match - the latest addition two-gamer Will Young (shoulder reconstruction) who has been replaced by wingman Brodie Martin.

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