Victorian coach Damien Hardwick has no doubt the AFL’s bushfire relief match will be played at a serious intensity.

Most of the competition’s best players will take to Marvel Stadium on February 28 for the first State of Origin-style clash since 2008.

Regular representative football fell by the wayside in 1999 because player, club and fan interest had dropped off, but Hardwick says spectators can look forward to a legitimate contest.

“The players all sit there and they’ll be jovial, but once that game starts they just play,” Hardwick told SEN.

“I’d expect the guys to play as hard as they possibly can. What we’re after is to see a great showcase of a game of AFL for a terrific cause.

“I’m not losing to ‘Horse’ (All Stars coach John Longmire).”

He is looking forward to coaching his Richmond stars Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin, Bachar Houli and Tom Lynch for Victoria.

But less so about trying to shutdown Tigers premiership players Jack Riewoldt and Shane Edwards, who will line-up for the All-Stars.

Hardwick will also lead ace GWS forward Jeremy Cameron after the Tigers crushed the Giants’ in last year’s grand final.

Cameron is hoping the game is played with more of a focus on attack.

“It would be nice if it was about five out of 10 defence and 10 out of 10 offence,” he told SEN.

“I think if there’s someone coming back into the hole you’re obviously not going to run through that guy, you don’t want to injure someone.

“The defenders don’t want us to kick goals and we don’t them to dominate us so it’s going to be a great game to watch.”