The Tigers meet Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday and Hardwick has declared the Pies the team to beat in 2010.
Despite his lofty rating of this week's opposition, Hardwick said Richmond could upset the ladder leader.
“We play a system of football that we actually think gives ourselves a chance,” Hardwick said from training at Punt Rd on Thursday.
“That system broke down last week ... talent alone is not going to get you over the line.
“There are a lot of things that go into a game of football these days, so from our point of view we give ourselves a fair chance.”
Hardwick said the Tigers were disappointed with their effort and intensity in last week’s loss to North Melbourne but were looking forward to trying to rebound.
He suggested this may be the year Collingwood goes all the way to claim the premiership.
“Mick’s got them playing an outstanding brand of football and they play a very team-oriented brand of football, also,” Hardwick said of Collingwood.
“It’s something we admire them for and something we adhere to be ... it’s a great learning curve for our guys and we go in there and just see how we go.
“Dustin Martin gets a chance to play against a great player in Dane Swan or Scott Pendlebury ... so for every player that we put out there, it’s going to be a good challenge for them.”
Swan is in superb form, coming off another best-on-ground performance in the Pies’ win over St Kilda last week.
“I think he [Swan] is almost untagable,” Hardwick said.
“Even when you tag him, he still gets 30 [possessions]. He’s a terrific player and a guy that seems to get better every year.
“So from our point of view it’ll just be a huge challenge for whoever picks him up and hopefully we can keep him to a reasonable number.”
Young midfielder Ben Nason is likely to come into the team to replace suspended star Trent Cotchin, while defender Will Thursfield will undergo a fitness test to ensure he is over the concussion he sustained against North Melbourne.
