RICHMOND is confident it has the small defenders to handle Collingwood's forward line on Thursday night, targeting Alex Fasolo as the key to shutting down the improved Magpies. 

Collingwood went into round one with "top-heavy" trio Jesse White, Mason Cox and Darcy Moore, but White (one goal) was the only tall to hit the scoreboard in a 15-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.

Fasolo was the Magpies' standout forward, kicking 3.3, while Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom booted two goals each from the midfield.

Match preview: Richmond v Collingwood

Tall defender David Astbury said the Tigers' JLT Community Series clash against the Magpies gave them confidence they had the smalls to handle Fasolo and Co.

"They had an impact in the first quarter of the JLT, but then we looked at it at quarter-time and our smaller defenders did a really good job after that," Astbury said on Wednesday.

"We've got the capability to do it and I definitely think we've got the personnel to combat that.

"[Fasolo] was in awesome form last week, so it's important we get on top of him early."

Richmond went into round one with small defenders Reece Conca and Taylor Hunt, with versatile backman Dylan Grimes also capable of playing on small forwards.

The Tigers have redeployed Nick Vlastuin to the midfield, but coach Damien Hardwick could consider sending him back into defence if needed on Thursday night.

"That's the beauty of Nick, he's a really well-rounded footballer, he can spend time forward, in the midfield or definitely he's been effective when used in the back six," Astbury said.

"He's someone who, if we get in a bit of strife back there, we can definitely stick him in the back six and he will always do a job.

"He's such a natural competitor, it doesn't really matter where he plays he's always going to have an impact."

Astbury said he was looking forward to watching the battle between a strengthened Richmond on-ball division and the highly-rated Magpies' midfielders.

Recruit Dion Prestia shapes as a key player for the Tigers, but he was on light duties at training on Wednesday, completing no running in the 30-minute captain's run.

Astbury said the Tigers had not dwelled on their horror round-two loss last year against Collingwood, with Brodie Grundy's goal in the dying seconds starting a six-match losing streak for the club.