Richmond defender David Astbury has backed on-baller Kane Lambert to return for their AFL qualifying final against Hawthorn.
Lambert, one of the Tigers' best players this season, has been out of action since round 21 because of ankle surgery.
He was moving freely at the start of Tuesday morning training, their main session before Thursday night's MCG clash.
Forward Dan Butler returned from ankle surgery through the VFL last weekend and has not played in the senior side since round 16.
"Kane is as diligent as ever, he's given himself every opportunity and, from what I'm hearing, he'll be every chance to play," Astbury said.
"He's an unbelievable warrior and I'm sure he'll be fine."
While Richmond are strong favourites to successfully defend the premiership, Denis Pagan has tipped West Coast to win the flag.
Pagan, the two-time North Melbourne premiership coach, thinks the Tigers have had too long to think about the flag because they shored up their top-two finish several weeks ago.
"It's an interesting concept that he's got - naturally, people might look to outcome a little bit but with our playing group I know we're a week-to-week outfit," Astbury said.
"If we look too far beyond that it will bite us."
Astbury said there was no way they were too far ahead of themselves at Punt Rd.
"We've won 18 games this year and we back our system in, we don't look too much for outcomes," he said.
"Football is full of provocative comments but you're not going to get one from me.
"We won't buy into that too much."
The Hawks under master coach Alastair Clarkson will try to find a way to break down Richmond's game style and Astbury said they will be fierce opponents.
"They're Hawthorn and they're well-known for winning, particularly (in) this era," he said.
"Any team that you face in a final, particularly a qualifying final, they're going to be a good outfit."
Richmond were not at their best in the last month of the regular season but Astbury said that might have been good for the Tigers.
"The last few weeks of the season weren't so much about sitting (in) a position of comfort, it's more that the opposition that we faced probably produced different sorts of challenges than what we'd faced," he said.
"I think it's a blessing; we got a good look at different systems and how they're going to challenge us."
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