DESPITE some encouraging performances against quality opposition, Richmond remains winless four games into the 2011 season and skipper Chris Newman says near enough isn't good enough at Punt Road.

After a draw with St Kilda and losses to Carlton, Hawthorn and Collingwood, the Tigers play North Melbourne on Easter Sunday and Newman admits the pressure is mounting for a breakthrough victory to kick-start their campaign.

"Every week that you lose it becomes more urgent to win a game," Newman said from Etihad Stadium on Thursday.

"We're desperate to win a game. We've been in some winning positions in games where we haven't finished off, but we feel like we've played some quality opposition and our game plan has held up for the most part.

"We're very much looking forward to this week. I think it's going to be a really good challenge for us."

Richmond has been hamstrung by the loss of key defenders Luke McGuane and Alex Rance, who are available for selection after serving two and three-week suspensions respectively, and Newman agreed the pair had let their teammates down. 

"We told them both that we were disappointed in their actions," he said.

"Obviously they're the bigger bodies [down back] and they're the ones we rely on to try and stop those goals from deeper inside 50. It was disappointing, they know that, they know they let the team down and they have to learn from that now."

Despite his disappointment, Newman said the flip side of that situation had proved to be a positive for the club.

"I think the guys who have come in and filled those roles have been really good," he said of Dylan Grimes and David Astbury.

"They've been under fire a little bit and it's probably up to the forwards and the midfielders to be putting teams under more pressure."

After playing both last year's grand finalists and two finals teams in the opening month of the season, the Tigers could be forgiven for feeling some relief at going up against a more evenly matched opponent, but Newman quickly dispelled that notion.

"We're going to have to be on our game this week and I think the biggest thing will be the contested footy," he said.

"Both sides really pride themselves on contested ball, so that's where the game will be won or lost.

"There are a variety of younger guys who have really stepped up for North. There are a few key guys that we need to shut down if we're any chance to be in the game."