Livewire Richmond small forward, Jake King, is doing everything in his power to again defy the odds and return to the playing field for Saturday night’s big clash with arch-rival Carlton at the MCG.

King suffered a medial ligament strain in his left knee during the Tigers’ Round 14 loss to Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on June 30 and initially was expected to be sidelined for about six weeks.

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But, in typical fashion, he’s worked diligently to give himself the best possible chance of an early playing comeback.

“The knee’s going well,” King told ‘Roar Vision’.

“We trained today with the VFL boys.  I was able to get through quite comfortably.
“I’ve been doing my rehab. and it’s been going really well, so the physios are quite happy.

“I’ll train again Thursday with the main group, the senior squad, and we’ll reassess it from there . . . speak to the docs and the physios, and see what Damien’s (Hardwick) got to say.”

The 28-year-old has been restricted to just eight games this season due to injury problems.

As well as his medial ligament strain, he suffered a posterior cruciate ligament strain earlier in the season, and he’s also been nursing hand injuries.  
Meanwhile, young midfielder Brad Helbig has recovered well from his first game back from a long-term foot injury last Saturday.  

Helbig played about three quarters of the match with the Coburg Development League side, and will look to increase his workload in the VFL seniors this weekend.

Young defender Jake Batchelor is recovering well from knee bruising he suffered during Richmond’s Round 16 loss to Gold Coast on July 14, and he will undergo a fitness test later in the week.

Key defender Ben Griffiths will also train later this week before a decision is made on his fitness, as he attempts to recover from a calf injury, which has sidelined him for the past two matches.