Rutten, who is named in the 40-man Dream Team squad, suffered bruising to his lower back last week and will miss just his fifth game in close to five years.
“We hope Ben will be available next weekend. We want to make every effort to make him available for that match because it’s an important game for our sport,” Craig said.
“I know he’s really keen to make himself available for it if he’s selected, so he’ll be doing everything possible to make sure he’s fit.”
The All-Australian has been in stellar form this season and was considered a certainty to be included in the Dream Team, which will be cut to 30 players on Sunday.
Craig said neither the Adelaide coaching panel nor medical staff would interfere if Rutten was passed fit to play in the one-off celebratory game.
“It won’t be for us to decide whether Ben plays. It will be up to the medical people associated with the Dream Team.
“Our players are keen to play. When this concept was put on the table, our club supported it as a one-off, so if you’re going to support it, you have to support it fully.
“If Ben Rutten can get up to play this game and be deemed fit by the medical team and Mark [Williams] as the coach, he’ll play. I don’t have any issue.
“Our players in the squad are really looking forward to playing and so they should be. We’ve got the captain of the Dream Team, Andrew McLeod, at our footy club…I think it’s a good concept.”
On Friday, Port Adelaide and Dream Team coach Mark Williams revealed he’d been approached by a handful of players across the League, desperate to be considered for the prestigious game.
“If players are up, right and ready to play, I’ll be playing them,” he said.
“It’s just going to be a great game. I guarantee there will be a lot of interested, excited and challenged coaches and players when it comes to next week.”
And what does Williams’ SA coaching counterpart have planned for the weekend ‘off’?
“I’m going to go watch some of our SANFL players play next weekend,” Craig said.
“And, if I get a chance, I’ll watch the Dream Team beat the Victorian team on the TV.”
