GARY Ablett's withdrawal will not make that much difference to the strength of the Victorian side for tomorrow night's Hall of Fame Tribute match, Mark Williams said yesterday.

The match has been billed as a contest pitting Victoria's star-studded midfield against the Dream Team's power forwards, but Dream Team coach Williams was not about to claim any advantage in Ablett's unavailability due to a calf injury and the possibility that St Kilda's Nick Dal Santo could also miss with general soreness.

Victoria trained at the MCG yesterday. Team captain Jonathan Brown got through the session comfortably and appears likely to play provided that he pulls up well this morning.

Ablett's club and Victorian teammate, Matthew Scarlett, said he was very disappointed.

"He was looking forward to it. Obviously, his dad played for Victoria and 'Gaz' was real excited about the match and found out yesterday that he wasn't going to play. I'm pretty disappointed and so are a lot of other players as they would have liked playing with him."

Dal Santo, Victorian coach Mark Thompson said, had been having trouble coming up for consecutive club games.

"He's been playing with a few problems and it's (been) a bit of a struggle to get up week to week. But he's pretty keen to play, too, and if he gives us the nod he'll play."

Brad Johnson is also battling a calf injury, but Williams said it did not make much difference to Dream Team preparations who lined up for the home state.

"If you look at the Victorian line-up, they've got another 30 they could bring in and look the same for us," said Williams. "They're all good players. Anyone who gets the opportunity to wear the Big V jumper is a very good player."

Williams was speaking at a media conference with his four key forwards — Richmond's Matthew Richardson, Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich, Hawthorn's Lance Franklin and Geelong's Cameron Mooney.

It is an embarrassment of riches, even if Richardson may start on the wing as he has done with devastating impact of late. It's the three tenors, the three musketeers, the three amigos — maybe four is one too many.

"I don't think AFL has ever seen a star-studded line-up like this on any forward line," Williams said, before indicating that the seven-man bench allowed a fair degree of flexibility in how he spent his riches.

"The four mightn't be on the ground at any one time," Williams said. "We might use the extended bench to go very small, very quick at times. (But) I'm sure there'll be some sort of competition amongst the guys to see who can take the biggest mark, kick the longest goal, lay the biggest tackle."

Williams also said he had asked the four whether there was any other position on the ground they could play, besides Richardson's obvious midfield option.

"Cam said ruck, if they're not doing well there, 'Pav' said centre half-back but 'Buddy' just said, 'anywhere forward'."

Mooney might be the only premiership player, but he very definitely ranked himself behind the other three when it came to a possible match-up with Geelong teammate Scarlett.

"If you look at these three boys," said Mooney glancing past Williams to the other three men to his right, "I'm probably last in line. So I don't think I'll get 'Scarlo'."

Franklin said he knew who he did not want — Hawthorn teammate Trent Croad.

"He's one I wouldn't like to play on. He's hard, got a strong body. He's physical in the air and on the ground and he's fast as well. I wouldn't mind if he got 'Richo', to be honest," Franklin added to general laughter.

Franklin, who has had shoulder soreness, said he would definitely play.

"My shoulder is fine? If it was a home-and-away game I'd play. This is no different," he said.

Williams and his four forwards have already discussed how and where they will be used and there may be further refinement of the plan before they run out tomorrow night.

On one thing there is already agreement, however. "We've already discussed it and if we don't kick a winning score, it'll be the midfield didn't get it in to us clean," said Richardson.