ESSENDON's Dustin Fletcher and Jobe Watson have been given the green light to play in Saturday's International Rules test, despite awaiting the ruling of Tuesday's directions hearing.
 
The AFL has confirmed the pair's availability, with Fletcher and Watson to join their Australian teammates in Sydney for a two-day camp, before taking their place against Ireland in the one-off match at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night.
 
The League issued infraction notices to the 34 past and present players on Friday and they and their representatives will appear in front of former county court and anti doping tribunal chairman David Jones on Tuesday.
 
Watson has spoken of his involvement in the Bombers' 2012 supplements program, while Fletcher's participation is yet to be officially determined.
 
The AFLPA and the players are seeking a speedy resolution to the saga, with Tuesday's hearing expected to sort out the specifics of an exact hearing date and a schedule for evidence and witnesses.

Under the AFL anti-doping code, players served with infraction notices must be provisionally suspended and cannot take part in league matches.

But it is understood the AFL Commission has provided Fletcher and Watson with an exemption to play in the international match, freeing them up to join the Australian team camp in Sydney on Monday.

The AFL's football operations manager Mark Evans said he was not entitled to know the identity of the Essendon players who had been served with notices because of privacy rules.

However, the AFL had received advice from its legal department that no changes needed to be made to the 24-man Australian squad.

"We've come a long way through the process (of the Essendon investigation) but the incredibly important bits are still to come," Evans said.

"We should not pre-judge the outcomes of that and any player that is charged has a right to defend that charge in a manner they see fit.

"It's very important, in the middle of that, the AFL just upholds the process and allows that to occur.

"All I can say is that our general counsel Andrew Dillon has informed me that there is no need to change the structural make-up of that squad."

Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak said the Essendon duo were a welcome part of the squad and the game would help them take their minds off the anti-doping saga.

"I think it'll be great for them to come out and play and I'm sure they'll enjoy the game as well," he said.