RICHMOND will look at how it was brought undone by North Melbourne's defensive tactics two weeks ago when planning for Ross Lyon's Fremantle this weekend.

The Kangaroos beat the Tigers by 62 points in round 15 after putting players behind the ball while their defenders blanketed Richmond's forwards.

Hardwick said the Tigers' would take lessons out of both the Roos' loss and last week's win over Gold Coast, which was a highly contested game - another trait of the fifth-placed Dockers.

"Defensively we weren't happy. We still had 30 shots on goal versus North Melbourne so offensively it wasn't a concern but defensively we gave up 33," Hardwick said.

"Good sides don't give up 30 shots on goal and that's what we generally hang our hat on. Last week I think we gave up 13, 14.

"We were really disappointed with the defensive aspect of our game from that game - we certainly leaned a few things and it was a good kick in backside so defensively we'll be in a better mindset this weekend.

"North Melbourne are like a slingshot type of side as similar to Fremantle so we certainly get a look at that also … we've learned a couple of lessons over the last couple of weeks."

Hardwick also said the Tigers would look to reduce the impact of some of the Dockers' backmen who are renowned for using the ball well out of defence.

He said they controlled it well when it came touncontested possessions, which was something he believed the Tigers failed todo last time they met in round five and the Dockers prevailed by a point.  

"They're a good back half using side. Guys like Johnson, Duffield if he comes back in, these players can set up their play really well ... Ibbotson is a guy that probably gets under the guard of a lot of opposition sides," he said.

"We'll be putting some work into those players because I think they start a lot of their offensive counter-attacks through those guys.

"They're really good players - we've just got to make sure we have their measures."

The Dockers have won the last three clashes betweenthe teams with an average margin of just under two goals. 

Hardwick said they expected a low-scoring contest andit would come down to the team that was better defensively. 

"I think our games have been relatively closeover the last three to four years we've played them," he said. 

"It's only going to be a 12-goal game. Basicallythe winner will get 12 and the loser lower than that. 

"It's a matter of who can defensively standup."

Bachar Houli trained on Thursday and will return from a two-week hamstring while Ivan Maric pulled up well from his first game back from a groin injury last week against Gold Coast.

Shane Tuck is in the mix after two games back in the VFL, while Hardwick was keeping his cards close to hischest on serial substitute Matt White starting in the green vest in his 100thgame. 

"Funnily enough, the sub is the one thing I makeup my mind [about] on the Saturday night before the game," he said. 

"[White] has been a very, very good player, he'sbeen a durable player, he's had to do it tougher than most, there's no doubtabout that.

"I think he's improved every year he's been here,since I've been here, so we've been really pleased with his output and whathe's brought to the footy club."