Even if George Hewett can clamp down on Dustin Martin, Richmond are backing their midfield depth in the massive AFL clash against Sydney.
Hewett's shut down job on Western Bulldogs defender Jason Johannisen last week has prompted speculation he might go to Martin in Saturday's match of the round at the MCG.
It would be an even tougher assignment than stopping the run of last year's Norm Smith Medallist.
Martin, a Brownlow Medal favourite, is among only four players this season to have averaged 25 disposals and a goal per match, with a minimum of five games played.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick made it clear on Wednesday that he is not losing sleep about the prospect of Hewett going to Martin.
Apart from having great faith in Martin's ability to handle the tag, Hardwick is rapt with his team's midfield depth.
The recruiting of Josh Caddy and Dion Prestia has given Martin and captain Trent Cotchin the support they badly needed.
"Dusty has gone through all these ... things before," Hardwick said of a potential tag.
"The great thing about our footy club is we have Dusty with the flexibility (that) he can go forward, he can play midfield.
"But if Dusty has a relatively quiet day, which doesn't happen often, Cotchin, Caddy, Prestia, all come into their own.
"We're reasonably confident that if one of our good players does have a down day, we certainly have the depth to cover those players and move the pieces around.
"It's been a real strength of ours this year."
Before Prestia and Caddy arrived, midfield depth was an area of concern for Hardwick since the retirements of Shane Tuck (2013) and Dan Jackson (2014).
Richmond will feature Tuck, who played 173 games for the Tigers between 2004-13, as homecoming hero former player before Saturday's match.
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