THEY might have been described by Richmond coach Damien Hardwick as "compost", but they're the players the club needs most amid a swelling injury list at Punt Road.

And they'll be forced to step up again ahead of Saturday night's clash with the Western Bulldogs, with reliable defender David Astbury set to miss due to an ankle injury.

With all three members of the club's leadership group – Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance – already having missed a substantial portion of the season, Hardwick praised Richmond's strength in depth and the club's ability to replace its star talent.

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Jack Ross, Sydney Stack, Noah Balta and Liam Baker have provided an instant impact when called upon, leading to Hardwick's comedic analogy in describing their importance.

"It's like adding a bit of compost to a rose garden," Hardwick laughed.

"You get an immediate response and it's really exciting. Not that those players are compost, they're probably a little bit better than that.

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"But the fact of the matter is, it adds to the mix of your playing group. We're really excited about what those guys have brought.

"We're also really pleased that some of our players have really played well. We're in a reasonable place at the moment."

Shai Bolton appears the man most likely to replace Riewoldt this Saturday night after winning 25 disposals and laying 11 tackles in the VFL over the weekend, while Ryan Garthwaite is the leading contender to replace the injured Astbury against the Dogs.

Astbury rolled his ankle following a nasty landing during Richmond's Anzac Day Eve victory over Melbourne, with the 10-day break not aiding his cause to prove his fitness.

"He probably won't play," Hardwick said.

"He won't train today (Thursday). It was an incredible effort to play … the size of his ankle, he was lucky to get his boot back on.

"We had a conversation before and he's looking increasingly unlikely at this stage. It probably means he's really doubtful for the weekend's game.

"He's an important player for us – and we'll give him every chance – but it's not looking likely at this stage."