RICHMOND will need to overcome a dire record without vice-captain Brett Deledio if it is to rebound against the Brisbane Lions and get its season back on track at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Deledio has been ruled out for one more week as he battles calf soreness, which resurfaced after he played in round one after an interrupted pre-season.
The two-time club champion is available to return after serving a one-match suspension, but coach Damien Hardwick confirmed on Thursday he would need another week on the sidelines before playing.
The Tigers, who kicked just nine goals against the Western Bulldogs in round two, have lost four of their last five games without Deledio.
"He'll hopefully get the calf right for round four, so from our point of view we just move on," Hardwick said on Thursday.
"He's close enough but he's still got some soreness in that area, so it's one of those ones you can either take the week and play it conservatively or take the risk and miss three or four.
"He can get to a certain stage of running before it gets sore again, … but we're all over it, so we've got no doubt he'll play round four."
Deledio completed light skills work at Thursday's training session alongside defender Dylan Grimes, who has been ruled out for one to two weeks with a hamstring injury.
Hardwick said he was more concerned about finding more spark in the forward line, where Deledio has become a mainstay, than bolstering the team across half-back.
"I think our run and carry from our back half has been a real positive so far. We've been one of the best transition sides in the AFL," he said.
"But last week we didn't finish that well going across the arc. We had 17 marks inside 50 but only three loose-ball gets, which you generally win when you take 17 marks."
Tall defender David Astbury is a possible replacement for Grimes in the backline after recovering from being stung by a stingray, but Hardwick said the Tigers would need to consider how their backline matched up against a small Lions' forward group.
The coach was confident half-forward Shane Edwards (calf) and small defender Nick Vlastuin (hand) would be available, along with key forward Ty Vickery.
"Ty will train today. He missed last week's game with a knee complaint, so he's probably a little bit behind the eight-ball," Hardwick said.
"He hasn't played a lot of footy in the last three weeks, but we're still crying out for that third tall forward."
Half-forward Chris Knights is demanding selection after two strong weeks with the Tigers' VFL side and could come into the team either in attack or through the midfield.
"The one thing we like to see is two full games and Chris has done that now and played very well in both," Hardwick said.
"He's improved his flexibility being able to go through the midfield. It was the one thing we spoke about with him at the end of last year, improving his flexibility.
"Whether it's half-forward, midfield or wing, he's put his hand up in all of those areas.
"He's capable of kicking 40 goals a season, it'd be nice if he gets a bag for us on Saturday night."
