HE MAY have fully recovered from concussion but Ben Cousins' head is still spinning.
Richmond coach Terry Wallace said Cousins would play four quarters of Friday night's NAB Challenge match against the Brisbane Lions at Gold Coast Stadium after shaking off a head knock in his comeback game.
But Wallace conceded the Brownlow Medallist was looking forward to life becoming "more normal" after the enormous hype surrounding his new life as a Tiger.
Certainly Cousins did not find any solace when he jetted into Gold Coast for Richmond's final hit-out before the season proper.
"You still wander through the airport and get the same [reception]," Wallace laughed.
"But it's just the nature of him. There's been so much general interest in his story that you would have had to be living under a rock not to notice it.
"But we expected it. And each time you come to a new venue it will be the same sort of thing.
"But as the season rolls along and he keeps playing, hopefully it will become more normal."
Asked how Cousins was handling it all, Wallace said: "I would sense he will be pleased when the ball is bounced, and it will be more about footy than anything else.
"But you have to wear what comes your way."
Cousins' comeback stalled almost as soon as it began. He suffered delayed concussion after an impressive 21-disposal performance in the NAB Cup quarter-final against Collingwood on February 26.
Missing Richmond's clash with St Kilda in Shepparton last week, Cousins needs a "real searching run" against the Lions to ensure he is ready to play Carlton on March 26.
"We were probably keen to give him a smaller hit-out in NAB three (against the Saints), but he missed that because of the knock," Wallace said.
"But two weeks on he's absolutely fine. He's been 10 days into competitive training with no dramas.
"And to be honest he needs a real searching run tomorrow night to top himself up for round one.
"From a footy sense his game time is probably down on what would be the norm, but a good hit-out tomorrow night and he will be fine.
"If he gets through tomorrow night he will be picked for round one."
Wallace said Richmond would not hold back against the Lions, describing the practice match as a full dress rehearsal for round one.
Wallace named a 24-man squad including Cousins, Matthew Richardson, Brett Deledio, Nathan Foley, Nathan Brown and Shane Tuck, and just one rookie – ruckman Andrew Browne.
The Lions have also selected a strong squad after their loss to Melbourne last Friday night in Cairns.
They welcome back Tim Notting and Justin Sherman, both rested, while captain Jonathan Brown will play his first full game of 2009.
He was used for just the first half of their 37-point loss to Melbourne.
However, Jared Brennan (quad) will be rested ahead of the season opener against West Coast.
The Lions have not beaten Richmond since round 14, 2004.
Dream Team watch – Ben Cousins is rated a $364,000 midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009
