THE 34 current and former Essendon players will not join the legal action taken by the club and James Hird.  

The players' lawyer David Grace QC has told the Federal Court the players will provide an undertaking not to take any action on their own.  

He said the players would 'agree to be bound' by this court's judgement.

Justice John Middleton agreed to the proposal but has asked for a list of the 34 players to be provided to the court, which will remain confidential.

Lawyers for Essendon and suspended coach James Hird launched the court action last month.

They are claiming Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority acted unlawfully by conducting a joint investigation with the AFL.

It followed ASADA's decision to issue show-cause notices to the 34 current and former Essendon players, 16 months after the club 'self-reported' on its controversial supplements program.

The case is set for a three-day trial beginning Monday 11 August.