THE PROSPECT of pushing into the top four this weekend won't distract Richmond it prepares to face the AFL's form team, says midfielder Shaun Grigg.
A win over Hawthorn on Friday night, combined with a Sydney Swans' loss to Adelaide, will likely see the Tigers slip into fourth position, despite their devastating loss to Fremantle last Saturday.
Grigg said while the Tigers were confident in their recent form, they weren't looking beyond the immediate challenge of facing the high-scoring Hawks.
Match preview: Hawks v Tigers
"It's a long way away, we've still got six games left so all we can do is focus on the Hawks," he said on Tuesday morning when asked if he believed the Tigers belonged in the top four.
"If we look too far away, we'll be in for a smashing.
"We can just look at who we've got this week and it's the Hawks, and we've seen that our best is good enough so we'll see how we go."
The Hawks have cleared 100 points a game every week since round nine, and have averaged over 144 in the past three rounds
But Grigg said the Tigers wouldn't take a backwards step against the premiers when they line up in Friday night's blockbuster at the MCG.
"They're playing some pretty good footy, really electric footy," he said.
"But the challenge is in front of us and we're not going to shy away from it. We want to play against the best and at the moment, they're the in-form team so we'll see how we go.
"It's a massive challenge and we're really excited about it and we're not going to shy away, it's a big game and we're love playing in those sorts of games."
The Tigers have beaten other current top four teams this season including Fremantle in round 10 and the Swans in round 13, before falling just four points short of a second victory over the Dockers last Saturday.
It's this sort of form that gives them the belief that they can be the fifth team to topple the Hawks this season, on the last day of Damien Hardwick's proclaimed "Big Boy Month".
"We've showed we're good enough so if we turn up and play the way we want for long enough, then we'll be in with a shot," Grigg said.
"We're in pretty good form. We've just got to play well for long enough during games.
"If we're going to have a lapse against a quality team like the Hawks, then they'll probably put us away.
"It's on us and we're excited about it."
Ruckman Shaun Hampson remains in doubt after rolling his ankle against the Dockers, with training this week to determine his fitness.
But Ty Vickery comes back into selection contention after serving a two-match ban for rough conduct against Carlton's Michael Jamison in round 15.
"Ty was playing really good footy before he got suspended, so I'm lucky I'm not a coach to pick the team," Grigg said.
"He'd be around the mark."
Meanwhile, Grigg said footage of a frustrated Jack Riewoldt expressing his blatant frustration over the Tigers' loss to the Dockers was an example of how all the players felt.
Riewoldt's anger came after Bachar Houli decided to kick long to a three-on-one contest from full back, which saw the ball turned over and resulted in the match-winning goal to David Mundy.
"Everyone was disappointed. We know Jack wears his heart on his sleeve and he's an emotional guy," Grigg said.
"It shows he really cares."
