NORTH Melbourne's Drew Petrie predicts Port Adelaide will be aggressive in its send-off of retiring players Brendon Lade and Peter Burgoyne in this weekend's clash at AAMI Stadium.

Last week the Roos highlighted the influence milestones and retirements can have on a side, using a concerted attack on the ball and the man to beat ladder leader St Kilda by five points.

The match was deputy vice-captain Brady Rawlings' 200th game while Shannon Watt had announced mid-week that it would be the last of his 12-year career.

Burgoyne and Lade, inaugural squad members and premiership players for Port, confirmed their retirements on Wednesday.

The pair has played 472 games between them since 1997.

"I'm sure they (Port) will be the same, wanting to send two of their club champions away with victories," Petrie said.

"With milestone games, you've certainly got extra reason to play well and win and we did that last week against St Kilda.

"Port Adelaide will be ferocious and out to win against us on Saturday night."

Petrie said Rawlings and Watt were held in a very high regard by their teammates, and that Rawlings' two-week absence earlier in the season had re-confirmed his importance to the side.

Rawlings broke a 94-game sequence of consecutive matches when he strained a calf in the lead-up to round seven.

"He's super reliable," Petrie said. "I know there's a phrase that gets thrown around a bit about taking a bloke to war, but he's one bloke you want next to you.

"You know what you're going to get with Brady. He does everything for the team."