Richmond senior coach, Damien Hardwick, believes Thursday night’s match isn’t so much about redemption, but rather a rivalry still thriving from recent close contests. 

The Tigers face the Carlton at the MCG this Thursday night – the side’s first meeting since last season’s elimination final – and they’re embracing the big stage challenge.

“We’ve had some really close games over the past 12 to 24 months, it’s going to be a huge encounter,” Hardwick said.

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“We know that when our game is up and going we are capable of beating a lot of sides. We just need to do that with greater consistency.”

But Hardwick is wary of the momentum swings that hurt Richmond in 2013, and says his side must work to counter them.

“The big thing for us is to improve certain facets of our game that are going to make sure that when the chips aren’t going our way, things are maintained.”

Hardwick said that limiting the impact of Carlton midfielders Bryce Gibbs and Marc Murphy will also be an important factor in the Round 2 clash.

“Both have hurt us over the course of last year, so we’ll have various match ups for those two,” he said.

He expects former Blue, Shaun Hampson, to build on his impressive performance from the Tigers’ Round 1 loss to the Gold Coast.

“There weren’t many shining lights last week but there was a definite advantage with him,” Hardwick said.

“We look forward to an enormous contribution this week against his old team.”

Hardwick admitted that having Round 1 without the customary clash against Carlton was “different”, but downplayed suggestions that the Blues would be weakened by injuries to key players.

“They’re a quality side, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

“The situation is both sides need a win.”