Both the squad lists and the weather forecast suggest a team of inexperienced Richmond youngsters might get blown away in Alice Springs on Friday night.

But Tigers coach Damien Hardwick is confident what he has termed a "development squad" will put up a competitive showing against a star-studded Indigenous All Stars.

Already shifted from Darwin because of monsoonal rain, the match will now start early, in a bid to avoid the remnants of Cyclone Yasi.

It will begin at 5.30pm (7pm AEDT), rather than 7.10pm (8.40pm), in the hope of dodging predicted 100km/h winds and heavy rain which have prompted a severe weather warning.

Hardwick said his squad, containing nine players untried at AFL level, including the Tigers' top national draft pick Reece Conca, would relish the experience.

"It's just a really good opportunity for them to prepare like an AFL game, they mightn't get the opportunity this year to play, a lot of those guys," he said.

"But we'd like to give them an opportunity to see how they actually handle it."

Hardwick acknowledged an indigenous squad boasting the likes of Adam Goodes, Cyril Rioli, Daniel Wells and Aaron Davey was bursting with skill and pace.

But he said the Tigers, who will be captained by Jake King in the absence of Chris Newman and numerous other top-liners, would be out to win.

"We take every game seriously," he said.

"Although we are putting in a side that's very much a development squad, we're really interested to see where we're at.

"Our system's in place, we feel we can make a really solid effort of it ... our guys will be going out to win and give it their best shot."

Hardwick said 18-year-old Conca was already showing signs of a very bright future.

"He moves very well, he controls the ball very well and he's just a really good solid player, he's really going to complement our midfield and I think he'll be a very, very good player for us for a long time."

The rescheduling means planned live national television coverage by the ABC will now occur on delay.

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