One of North’s toughest challenges in the pre-season will be its battle against Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium on February 21, but Brent Harvey and Drew Petrie will get an early chance to test the surface on Thursday.

The pair will join a list of Australian cricketing royalty and fellow sports’ stars, supporting good mate and North Melbourne fan Ricky Ponting for a special charity tribute match.

“I’m very excited but also very nervous. Brett Lee is on the opposing side, so I’m really hoping I don’t have to face up to him,” Petrie joked.

“Stuart McGill bowling some spinners might make me look silly, but in saying that on my team we’ve got Justin Langer, Greg Blewett, Damien Fleming, Merv Hughes and Mike Hussey. To be able to play in the same cricket as those fellas is something not many people get to experience, so I feel very fortunate to be playing.”

Matthew Hayden, Andrew Symonds and Dean Jones are among the other cricketing stars set to feature, helping raise money for the Ponting Foundation.

There’ll be an early chance to face off against some strong opposition too, with the Hawks’ Luke Hodge and Jarryd Roughead and Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt and Brett Deledio also in action.

For Petrie, the opportunity brings back memories of wielding the willow as a youngster.

“I haven’t played a competitive game of cricket in probably 13 years. I haven’t thrown a cricket ball, haven’t bowled, haven’t batted in a very long time,” he added.

“When I was younger I thought I wasn’t a bad cricketer, I was opening batsman. I stopped playing when I was about 17 or 18 once I got drafted to North. I made about 10 or 12 centuries when I was a 16-year old, plenty of 50s. I wasn’t much of a bowler, but I loved batting.”

“I’m a little bit nervous that hopefully I don’t make a duck, or drop a catch or bowl too many wide. Batting against some of these internationally fast bowlers is pretty daunting.”

The North veterans will be on opposite sides - Petrie’s team captained by Adam Gilchrist and Harvey’s side by Ponting himself.

For Petrie, helping a foundation that does such great work with Tasmanians battling cancer was an easy choice.

“Any time Ricky comes to our games all the boys are really excited and almost too shy to go up and speak to him, we hold him in such high esteem. To be a part of his tribute match and raise money for the Ponting Foundation - you certainly didn’t have to ask Brent and myself twice.

“We can’t wait to run out onto the pitch with some of Australia’s biggest names.”

Tickets are still available for the Ricky Ponting Tribute Match this Thursday via Ticketmaster.

Visit the Ponting Foundation website for more information.