Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has given an update on a quartet of injured Tigers, while confirming one will be back for this weekend’s clash with West Coast.
After missing the last six matches with a calf injury, triple premiership player Kane Lambert will return to take on the Eagles at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Hardwick admits he cannot wait to see the underrated “little man” back in action.
“Very, very, very excited,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“He’s not underrated in our organisation, but I think he’s a little bit underrated outside our four walls.
“He’s an incredibly important player both on and off the field. He’ll be back which is great.
“We look forward to raining chaos on the opposition because that’s what he does.
“Will be good to welcome the little man back.”
Star midfielder Dion Prestia was subbed out of last weekend’s Dreamtime win over Essendon with another soft tissue issue, but according to his coach is some chance of getting up for the Eagles clash.
However, with Prestia’s history of calf and hamstring injuries, the club will be taking a cautious approach especially with the bye next weekend.
“Yeah, there’s a chance,” he said of Prestia.
“He’ll do some running today and then we’ll have a better understanding on Friday.
“He had some tightness which is obviously a worry with Dion. He was coming back off a calf and an early hamstring.
“It’s one of those ones that’s touch and go. We’re pretty conservative with our injuries and he’s a very important player so we won’t push the envelope if there’s any doubt at all.”
The Tigers are also currently without gun forward Tom Lynch (knee), key defender David Astbury (achilles) and ruckman Toby Nankervis (knee), but all are tracking well.
Lynch remains in Melbourne undergoing rehab after knee surgery, Astbury could be back after the bye and Nankervis, who was believed to be ahead of schedule, is still some time away from returning.
“Tommy is going well. He’s probably tracking really well,” Hardwick added.
“He’s back in Melbourne obviously, which is a little bit tough, but he’s doing a power of work in rehab.
“We look forward to getting him back. He was carrying that injury for a little while.
“It’s funny, once he’s had the surgery he realised how much it was holding him back with regard to his movement. That’s going to be a real positive for us.
“Dave’s been a little bit slower with regard to his achilles.
“He’ll be after the bye. He’s so just important to the way we play, but achilles’ can take a little bit of time.
“I’ve probably got to correct myself. I thought Toby Nankervis was ahead of schedule and he’s not at the moment. He’s going to be a little bit of time as well.”
The eighth-placed Tigers at 7-5 take on the seventh-placed Eagles with the same record in Perth on Sunday night.