Reputations will be on the line in the once-in-a-lifetime AFL match between the nation's best players at the MCG, according to the opposing captains.
Victorian skipper Jonathan Brown and his Dream Team counterpart, Andrew McLeod, acknowledged players had the chance to elevate their standing in the competition with a standout performance in the Hall of Fame tribute match.
"No doubt this will enhance guys' reputations, we've spoken about this as a team," Brown said.
"It will count towards the All-Australian team, so the guys have got a lot of personal pride, not only playing for your state for the Victorian boys, but a lot of personal pride on the line.
"You love to challenge yourself against the best, so I think it's a fantastic opportunity."
McLeod agreed much was at stake in the one-off showpiece clash to celebrate 150 years of football.
"It's a place where reputations can be won or lost, so you're not going to go out there and play half-heartedly," McLeod said.
"Blokes are going to put themselves on the line and they're representing not just themselves, but their families, their state and their clubs, so it's a huge honour."
Brown, who had been under a fitness cloud all week with a quadricep injury, declared he was a certain starter despite not participating in Victoria's final training run at the MCG.
"If you can kick goals from 55 metres I think there's nothing too much wrong with my quad," Brown said.
Fellow Victorians Brad Johnson and Nick Dal Santo were forced out with injury, along with Dream Team squad members Tadhg Kennelly and Luke McPharlin.
Victorian midfielder Gary Ablett was ruled out earlier in the week, while Hawthorn duo Jarryd Roughead and Brad Sewell were omitted as 30-man squads were pared down to 25-man teams.
For the Dream Team, Nathan Bassett, Daniel Cross and Corey Enright were left out.
Brown, a three-time Brisbane premiership player, said participating in the game ranked marginally behind that experience, but the atmosphere was comparable.
"The feeling this week going into the game has been a little bit similar to a grand final, just the build-up," he said.
"There's genuine excitement there, I'd rate it just below a grand final.
"There's no points towards it, but it's a significant achievement for all the players that are playing in the game and we'll be playing with that same intensity I suppose."
Brown said the exhibition game had generated much enthusiasm because the players knew the ongoing return of State of Origin football was unlikely.
"I'm not sure whether that could be done every year, but I'd certainly like to see it every couple of years or four years whatever," Brown said.
"I think it's a fantastic opportunity for the players throughout their career to say they've played rep footy."
Brown said the AFL's biggest problem was they lacked the two obvious rivals that made rugby league's State of Origin such an inspiring concept, although he said this year's method was a good solution.
"This is a great way. I know the (Dream Team) guys aren't wearing their state jumper, but they are still representing their states and still getting to play in a game that's so big," he said.
Victorian teammate, Geelong Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel, was another to back the growing call for State of Origin to return in some form.
"You see past players that have said they've worn the Big V six to 10 times, that would be great to be able to aim and achieve, it's more of a timing issue and where it can fit in the football calendar," Bartel said.
