DREAM Team coach Mark Williams has promised to look after each and every player in his care, ahead of Saturday night’s Hall of Fame tribute match at the MCG.

Earlier this week, Lions coach Leigh Matthews expressed concern over the potential inclusion of injured superstar Jonathan Brown in the Victorian team, but Williams said suspect players would be subjected to medical tests similar to those conducted before a typical club game.

“I’m an experienced coach. I understand the clubs’ concerns and I certainly have them with my players, but it’s a one-off game in 150 years and we’re mindful of the players’ [welfare],” Williams said.

“We have people from, not only one club, but from a variety of clubs that are managing the players right across the board from the fitness staff, to the assistant coaches and the doctors.

“Without any doubt we have a duty of care to look after the players from every side. I expect our guys would play 75 per cent of the game on Saturday.

“Some will play a little bit more and some a little bit less because with 25 players it’s hard to get it exactly right, but we’re trying to look after every player to make sure they are fit and ready to go for the following week.”

Williams revealed Hawks star Lance Franklin and also Crows full back Ben Rutten had expressed their desire to play for the Dream Team, despite carrying niggling injuries.

He was also confident the squad contained enough depth to cover the certain or likely omissions of Nick Riewoldt, Chance Bateman and Simon Black.

“I’ve had managers of players ringing me to say, ‘hey, this guy is definitely going to play’.

“We have a really exciting side without any doubt. There have still been quite a few players ringing me to see if they have an opportunity to get in. When it comes to training on Wednesday, we’ll go through and make sure everyone is right.

“There will be a couple of tests and then we’ll settle our side on Friday.

“If you think of the people on the outside, who haven’t got into the final 30, there are probably another 10 or 15 players that can almost replace anyone in the team.

“Maybe, someone like Andrew Lovett, who wasn’t in the squad before, gets the opportunity and it includes all the Essendon people who say, ‘wow, I want to sit there and watch our guy go around against the best.’”

Williams, who has four Port Adelaide players, Daniel Motlop, Kane Cornes and Peter and Shaun Burgoyne in the squad, dismissed accusations he’d protected his ruckmen by not selecting Brendon Lade or Dean Brogan.

He also brushed aside suggestions that the Hall of Fame game was meaningless.

“I’d say our [Port Adelaide’s] best four players are playing so we’re certainly not protecting them. If I thought our players were in cherry ripe form - they’d be in,” he said.

“And I’ve had fantastic feedback from a lot of coaches in regards to the significance of the game and the joy that the players will get from playing on such a big stage in such a big game.

“Any little thoughts on the outside just don’t bother me at all. I just brush them aside and look at all the positives that are coming out of the game.”