The ever-increasing number of Aboriginal players featuring on AFL club lists has led to a push for the biennial match involving the Indigenous All Stars to be played every year on Australia Day.

And Crows superstar Andrew McLeod - who will skipper the All Stars in Darwin on Saturday night against his club side Adelaide - hopes other states will get in on the action.

"There is certainly some opportunity for it to grow and to take it to Victoria or Western Australia," said the 32-year-old dual Norm Smith medallist, who conceded that Saturday's clash could be the last time he dons the All Stars jersey.

The veteran player was backed by All Stars coach and triple Brisbane Lions premiership star Chris Johnson.

"Everyone should have the opportunity to hold an All Stars game," said the All Stars coach.

"You could do all sorts of things with it, it's just your imagination."

With eight of his players yet to make their AFL debuts, Johnson said the match gave youngsters a chance to mix with their idols and get runs on the board.

"It's like a stepping stone for their career," he said.

"It only comes around every two years ... it's very important for us."

Johnson expects instinct rather than structure will be the focus of the game.

"The guys will just go out and do their stuff," he said.

"We're not overly tall but we've certainly got a lot of pace at ground level."

With five of his own team on the All Stars Side, Crows' coach Neil Craig said the clash at TIO Stadium was more than just preparation for the season ahead.

"It's great to be involved in this side of the game," he said.

"It's a really important game for the Indigenous All Stars and we as a club are starting to understand much better about the culture of the indigenous players and what this game means to them."

He also supported moves for an annual January 26 clash.

"Australia Day would fit in with most club's preparation," he said.

"We're open minded as a footy club ... We just know it's a great concept and we will play our part as best as we can."

Craig said he would be rotating his 30-man squad to give new talent a go and to rest his players in trying conditions.

"It's going to be stressful for the players," he said of the heat.

The press conference ended with some ribbing from Craig, who wants to see his star player McLeod take it easy after the latest in a long line of knee operations.

"Seven, eight, 10 minutes a quarter, I guess," he recommended in game time.

But Johnson has his own strategy in mind: "What we've been told and what we are going to do is two different things."

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