RICHMOND is set to welcome back triple-premiership star Nick Vlastuin from injury for his first game of the season against Adelaide.
The Tigers will make at least one forced change for Saturday's Adelaide Oval clash, with winger Kamdyn McIntosh unavailable through COVID-19 protocols.
And they are no closer to finding out when superstar Dustin Martin will return from personal leave.
But 173-game defender Vlastuin's recovery from a hamstring injury is welcome news as he looks to bolster an inexperienced backline.
Hugo Ralphsmith, Ben Miller, Josh Gibcus and Daniel Rioli will benefit from Vlastuin's guidance in defence, particularly given the ongoing absence of co-captain Dylan Grimes (hamstring).
"He (Vlastuin) is one of those players that makes those around him better," Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said.
"Players walk a little bit taller with him in the side because of the way he goes about it.
"We've got a relatively inexperienced defence that is growing week by week and players like Nick help that."
Vlastuin has endured multiple injury setbacks since he was knocked out in the opening stages of the 2020 Grand Final.
The 27-year-old managed just 12 games last year - when he was sidelined for two months after knee surgery - and missed the opening month of this season.
"Internally we rate him very highly and he's had a bit of a horror run the last couple of years," Hardwick said.
"The possession game defenders are very valuable and Nick is also very good offensively as well, makes very good decisions.
"He's such an important player to the way we play the game and when he's playing his best footy generally we're having a good run.
"Hopefully we can keep him on the park for the rest of the year."
Hardwick said there is no update to Martin's status, with Richmond still unable to put a timeline on the three-time Norm Smith medallist's return.
The 30-year-old took personal leave last month and is mourning the loss of his father, Shane, who died in New Zealand in December.
"He's got our full support to go about his business and achieve what he needs to achieve," Hardwick said.
"We'll be fully supportive of that and there's no rush from our point of view."
