RICHMOND is likely to keep the Sydney Swans guessing right up until Saturday's clash about whether they will select Ty Vickery after his suspension or stick with tall forward Ben Griffiths.
Vickery, who was suspended for four matches for punching West Coast ruckman Dean Cox in round 18, was in good form before his ban and has continued to train strongly in the hope of returning for the must-win clash against the Swans.
His absence has allowed Griffiths to return to the team in support of star forward Jack Riewoldt and given coach Damien Hardwick a dilemma as the Tigers prepare to travel in search of their ninth straight win.
"We'll name a squad of 25 and probably make some choices over the next two days," Hardwick said on Thursday.
"It's going to be a tough decision ... (Vickery) is a very good player, (but) he hasn't played for four weeks.
"Whatever is best for us to win will happen. Whether it's playing Ty or not playing Ty, we've got to win."
Richmond will name its team on Thursday night, but can use its three emergencies to make a late change on Saturday.
It is the only team in 2014 not to have made a late change when final teams are submitted 90 minutes before a match.
"We certainly don't feel it's necessary to play games, but that's not to suggest that other clubs do," football manager Dan Richardson told Fairfax Media on Thursday.
Hardwick said the Tigers were drawing confidence from a number of factors ahead of their clash against the ladder leaders at ANZ Stadium, with a win guaranteeing them back-to-back finals appearances.
Star midfielder Dustin Martin will return after missing one match because of a minor hamstring strain, adding to a number of potential match-ups Hardwick said could be to the Tigers' advantage.
"There's certain match-ups that we think are favourable, and they've probably got the same from their point of view," he said.
"We won't go into those here and now, but we think we match up pretty well against them.
"We're both very good contested ball sides, we've both got forwards that are dangerous, but our defenders are quite capable also."
The most intriguing match up is star Swan Lance Franklin against form defender Alex Rance after the pair had an entertaining battle at the MCG in round 14, with Franklin eventually breaking free to kick four goals in the Swans' 11-point win.
"It's one of the best match ups we saw this year; they had a truck load of one-on-one contests and 'Buddy' was the match-winner in the end," Hardwick said.
"I thought Alex handled himself really well in that contest.
"He's done it probably the last three or four times, so they have a great contest."
