RICHMOND will consider loading up on talls in this week's must-win semi-final clash with St Kilda as the Saints face a shortage of big men. 

The Tigers will be boosted by the inclusion of star forward Tom Lynch, and while Mabior Chol loomed as the possible omission, coach Damien Hardwick said the club was considering its options. 

Hardwick noted the Tigers are keen to have ruck support for Toby Nankervis, who has shouldered the duties around the ground since Ivan Soldo's knee injury.

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"Our preference is for 'Nank' to have a second ruck to go with, whether that's 'Mabs' or some other combination," the two-time premiership coach said on Wednesday. 

"I think last week with the humidity in the game and 'Nank' being required to play 80 per cent [game time] and some forward, it was probably a little bit too much for him, especially when they had two genuine rucks as well.   

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"Hindsight's a wonderful thing. Would we have picked the same side last week as this week? We probably wouldn't. We've done a little bit of work on that, so we'll look at something different for this weekend's game." 

The Saints have lost ruckman Paddy Ryder to a hamstring injury, while key back Jake Carlisle has left the club's hub to be with his pregnant partner ahead of the birth of their child. 

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There are also doubts on whether versatile tall Josh Battle will be ready to play on Friday night at Metricon Stadium as he manages a foot injury. 

Lynch will play having overcome his hamstring injury that saw him ruled out of last week's loss to Brisbane in the qualifying final, with Hardwick not concerned a finger issue that saw the former Gold Coast co-captain require scans this week. 

Hardwick said the goalkicker was "98 per cent" ready to play last week. 

"He's right to go. He's trained strongly throughout the week. It was a calculated decision last week," he said.

"We just thought he might enjoy the extra week of training, so he's right to play this week which is a real positive for us."