Richmond midfielders Reece Conca and Corey Ellis will make their return to the field this weekend, following injury setbacks.
Conca’s season so far has been ruined by hamstring issues, and he is likely to build fitness slowly by playing reduced minutes in the VFL, this Sunday against Port Melbourne at the ME Centre.
The 22-year-old hasn’t been able to play a senior game in 2015, despite being close to returning on two occasions, before injuries halted his progress.
Ellis has missed the last three matches with a hip flexor injury, after playing five straight AFL games from Round 7-12.
Meanwhile, key forward Ben Griffiths will face a fitness test later this week to determine whether he has recovered from a shoulder injury, which forced him out of last week’s win over GWS.
In that game, Shane Edwards sustained a hairline fracture in his right fibula, which will see him sidelined for at least a fortnight.
Promising rookie Jason Castagna is nearing a return from an ankle injury, while fellow first-year player Dan Butler, Richmond’s fourth pick in the 2014 National Draft, is inching closer to his VFL debut after a persistent knee injury.
Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric has served a one-match suspension, and is available for selection for Sunday’s clash with St Kilda.