BEN COUSINS will make his official comeback when Richmond meets Collingwood in Thursday night's NAB Cup quarter-final at Telstra Dome.
Cousins, 30, is set to play his first game since West Coast's qualifying final of 2007 – and his first in the yellow and black – in a long-anticipated return to the elite level.
In line to join the Brownlow Medallist for their first games of the year are former Tigers captain Kane Johnson, and defenders Will Thursfield, Jordan McMahon and Jake King.
The club could also have three players debut with former Port Adelaide midfielder Adam Thomson, second-year backman Alex Rance and November recruit Tyrone Vickery all named in the 29-man squad.
Vickery, 18, was selected by Richmond at No. 8 in the NAB AFL Draft and could provide handy support for ruckmen Troy Simmonds and Angus Graham.
Five players will be rotated out of the Tigers' line-up with Andrew Collins, Cleve Hughes, Jarrod Silvester, Jay Schulz and Jayden Post to miss after playing against Fremantle.
Veteran Matthew Richardson has been named but coach Terry Wallace warned on Tuesday the forward-turned-midfielder could be rested.
For Collingwood, youngsters Steele Sidebottom and Dayne Beams are a chance to be unveiled, along with second-year father-son selection Jaxson Barham.
Sidebottom and Beams joined the club at picks 11 and 29 respectively in last year's draft, while Barham, the son of club great Ricky, missed the 2008 NAB Cup owing to a shoulder injury. He is yet to play a senior game.
Tyson Goldsack, John McCarthy, Alan Toovey and Brent Macaffer have also been named in the extended side to be trimmed before Thursday and could all play their first games for 2009.
There are four players leaving the side that thrashed West Coast on February 7 – Anthony Corrie, Chris Dawes, Danny Stanley and Sharrod Wellingham.
Veteran Anthony Rocca, talented forward Paul Medhurst and young gun Sean Rusling – who is returning from recurrent shoulder problems – are yet to appear in 2009 and have not been named.
Click here to view the squads.
Dream Team watch – Ben Cousins is rated a $364,000 midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.
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