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RICHMOND and Carlton have both suffered defensive blows on the eve of their highly anticipated season-opener on Thursday night.

All-Australian half-back Bachar Houli will miss for the Tigers after suffering a calf strain at training on Tuesday morning, while Blues interceptor Caleb Marchbank will also be absent having failed to prove his fitness from bone bruising to his knee.

Houli is set to undergo scans to determine the full extent of his blow in the coming days, with an exact timeframe on his return not yet known.

Meanwhile, Marchbank – who endured a delayed start to pre-season training due to his ongoing recovery from a neck injury – will also miss after copping a knock to the knee in the club's second Marsh Community Series clash against Brisbane a fortnight ago.

Houli will cut a lonely figure in the Richmond recovery group, with the Tigers set to otherwise take a relatively clean bill of health into Thursday night's behind-closed-doors encounter at the MCG.

The club remains hopeful that ruckman Toby Nankervis (adductor), midfielder Jack Graham (shoulder) and wingman Kamdyn McIntosh (ankle) will be available, despite missing the chance to prove their fitness in a cancelled VFL practice match with Coburg last week.

However, the Blues are battling a number of injury concerns heading into round one with attacking trio Charlie Curnow (knee), Harry McKay (groin) and Eddie Betts (calf) all set to miss the season's first game.