Richmond star Nathan Brown will play in Saturday’s practice match against the Western Bulldogs at Shepparton.

It will be Brown’s first appearance for Richmond since breaking his right leg during the Round 10 clash with Melbourne last year.

He returned to the playing field last week when he played half a VFL practice match for the Coburg Tigers against the Kangaroos reserves.

“The plan all along has been to play him half a game last week and, if he pulled up okay, to continue that program,” said Richmond’s Football Operations Manager Paul Armstrong.

“He did, but because Coburg doesn’t have a game this weekend, the opportunity is for him to play two or three quarters in Shepparton against the Bulldogs.

“Last week, he played the first half and then was rested. This week, we’ll see how he goes playing a bit before half-time, resting, then re-starting after the break. That’s all part of the next step for him . . .”

Richmond will rest captain Kane Johnson, deputy vice-captains Joel Bowden and Matthew Richardson, plus players such as Chris Newman, Troy Simmonds and Greg Stafford this weekend.

But the Tigers will welcome back the likes of Darren Gaspar, Mark Coughlan, Andrew Kellaway and Trent Knobel, who all missed last Saturday’s NAB Cup opener against Hawthorn.

The 28-man Tiger squad for Saturday’s practice match against the Western Bulldogs is:

2. Darren Gaspar

3. Brett Deledio

4. Andrew Raines

7. Nathan Brown

8. Tom Roach

13. Trent Knobel

14. Dean Polo

16. Patrick Bowden

18. David Rodan

19. Dean Limbach

20. Ray Hall

21. Shane Tuck

22. Danny Meyer

23. Daniel Jackson

24. Mark Coughlan

25. Jay Schulz

26. Adam Pattison

27. Andrew Krakouer

30. Richard Tambling

31. Chris Hyde

32. Greg Tivendale

33. Brent Hartigan

35. Matthew White

36. Will Thursfield

38. Luke McGuane

39. Andrew Kellaway

41. Nathan Foley

42. Jeremy Humm