Thompson (general soreness) and Rutten will be rested, while Stevens will miss the game after sustaining a concussion in a training drill earlier in the week.
Stevens missed four games when he was concussed against the Dockers in round one last season, but Crows assistant coach Ben Hart said the swingman's current bout of concussion was only minor in comparison.
"We don't see any problems [with Stevens] at the moment," Hart told afl.com.au.
"It was just a little hit, but because of his pretty bad concussion against Fremantle last year it was more of a precaution for him.
"It's a no-risk policy for us at the moment in regards to playing guys that are a little bit underdone or injured in any form."
The omissions of Rutten and Stevens have paved the way for young key-position players Daniel Talia, Luke Thompson, James Sellar and Shaun McKernan to spend more time on the ground on Saturday.
McKernan impressed with three goals in the first round of the NAB Cup, while Talia and Thompson are both looking to break into the team in their second year at the club.
Hart said it would be exciting to see Talia and Thompson play in key defensive posts against the Dockers.
"You'll see the likes of some younger blokes like Daniel Talia, Luke Thompson and Shaun McKernan … guys like that really get an opportunity to show what they're made of and to put their hand up for round one," Hart said.
"We'll find out where those guys are at in their development and we'll also get a chance to look at Richard Tambling and Brodie Martin, who played a couple of games in defence last year.
"And then there's Phil Davis. Phil played a lot of footy last year, but now [we'll see] his ability to lead the side in a position at centre half-back."
Adelaide's defence has been restructured over the summer, following the retirements of attacking half-back flankers Andrew McLeod and Simon Goodwin and loss of All Australian centre half-back Nathan Bock to Gold Coast.
Hart said Martin, Tambling and impressive draftee Brodie Smith would audition for the vacant spots in the club's back six.
"There are probably a couple of spots up for grabs. Definitely, someone is going to be able to play that sweeping role, someone who can play on a tall or a small and, maybe, a half-back flanker with a bit of run as well," he said.
"You can never replace those guys [McLeod and Goodwin] but I think Brodie Martin can do a similar thing and Richard Tambling can do some of that as well."
Injured pair David Mackay and Chris Knights have been recalled to the 28-man squad, which will be trimmed to 27 on Saturday.
Star midfielder Bernie Vince is expected to play in the club's round three NAB Challenge game, likely to be at Visy Park next Friday afternoon.
Luke Thompson is a $92,500 defender in the Toyota AFL Dream Team competition.
