ST KILDA veteran Sam Fisher has backed players to quickly adapt to the AFL's interchange overhaul.

However, the 33-year-old believes the competition's midfielders could be in for a long, hot summer with predicted changes to the type of running programs they are given. 

The AFL slashed the interchange cap from 120 to 90 rotations a game this week, and abolished the substitute rule. 

Fisher said it was now over to the clubs' fitness staff to help prepare the players for the change over the upcoming pre-season.

"It will be interesting to see if they do change things, whether it will be become a bit more long distance because they'll have to run out games longer on the field rather than in bursts and then get a rest," Fisher told AFL.com.au.

"A lot of the running these days has been shorter and real repeat effort burst stuff.

"I guess being on the field longer you'll have to run longer distances and grind it out a bit more, rather than be on the burst at stages.

"I'm not totally sure but it will be interesting to see how it changes for those guys. 

"It will be interesting to see what approach the fitness coaches take."

Overall, the AFL has predicted the move will see an average reduction in game time per player per game of five minutes. 

While things won't be too different for Fisher and other key position players, the 2008 All Australian said midfielders would need to get used to "grinding it out" over longer distances.  

"They won't be able to go on and off whenever they want, and come on fresh for a burst for awhile and then get back off for a rest," he said.

"It probably won't change me too much, as key backs don't get too many rests throughout the game - we only get one or two anyway. 

"It won't change our rotations much, it might affect the mids a bit more and how much they can come on and off the ground."

As he looks ahead to his 13th season with the confirmation of a one-year contract extension imminent, Fisher is pleased to see the substitute vest go. 

"I like everyone in the team being part of the team and not wearing a red or green vest throughout the game," he said. 

"I just think once the team's picked, everyone in the team should be able to play the entire game. 

"I think it's a good change."

Overall, he said he wasn't too stressed about how the players would get used to next season's alterations.

"We've had a lot of rule changes throughout my career and some of them seem really big at the time," he said.

"But players adapt really quickly so it shouldn't change too much."