Richmond coach Damien Hardwick believes this Saturday’s clash with Greater Western Sydney will be won and lost in the midfield.

Hardwick described the Giants as having some of the most exciting talent in the competition, capable of toppling any side on their day.

The Tigers and Giants have the same win-loss record coming into the Round 14 game at the MCG – a venue at which Richmond has won just three times from seven attempts in 2015.

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“GWS are a very good side.  I know they’ve lost Mumford and a couple of defenders, but the fact of the matter is, their midfield is as good as anyone’s going around,” Hardwick said on Thursday.

“Their talent is as good as anyone in the competition.  They’ve got a lot of players in there that are capable of winning games by themselves.

“You look at the statistical analysis of their players.  (Dylan) Shiel, (Adam) Treloar, (Callum) Ward, these types of players.  If they get the game on their terms, they’ll beat us.

“It’s going to be a very good challenge.  They’ve got a very good forward line, an outstanding midfield.  The game is going to won and lost in the middle.  The contested ball game is going to be crucial this week.

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“We need to make sure we take away their ability to run, their ability to create run and carry, and try to get the game to be a bit more of a slog-fest.

“We’ve just got to make sure we take away their strengths, work on a couple of things to get the game on our terms, and well get the result we’re after.

“If you allow any side to play the game predominantly on their terms, you’re going to get beaten, regardless of personnel.”

Richmond and GWS have met four times, with the Tigers winning all four encounters.

The first and only match between the sides at the MCG was in Round 19 last season, when Richmond won by 27 points.