Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says the much-improved Tigers won't be paying over the odds to retain gun out-of-contract duo Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin.
Dual Coleman medallist Riewoldt and powerhouse midfielder Martin are reportedly both the subject of huge offers from rival AFL clubs.
Richmond will do everything they can to re-sign two of their very best players, but Hardwick says the club is in a much stronger bargaining position than in previous years.
"They know we want them at this football club and I've got no doubt they want to stay as well," Hardwick told reporters on Thursday.
"It's just part of the process of going through and getting the right dollar amount for everyone.
"We're probably at a stage now where we don't have to overpay our players, whereas previously when we were a struggling club we had to keep the talent and pay them accordingly.
"Now we're at the stage where we have to manage our salary cap a lot better.
"We're certainly looking to keep our talent but also bring talent in to help us win.
"It's a very fine balancing act."
Sixth on the ladder with six rounds remaining, Richmond are surging towards their first finals appearance since 2001. However they face a tough task against fourth-placed Sydney at the SCG on Sunday.
The Tigers haven't beaten Sydney at the SCG since 2004 and have lost their past six encounters with the Swans at the venue.
"It's going to be a contested game which we certainly like. We look forward to that style of footy also," Hardwick said.
Hardwick expects Sydney coach John Longmire to hand Ryan O'Keefe a run-with assignment on Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin, who had 34 disposals in last week's victory over Fremantle.
Ex-Crow Kurt Tippett has kicked 12 goals in five games for his new club including three in Sydney's victory over West Coast last week.
But Hardwick is confident his backline, led by Alex Rance, can restrict Sydney to a losing score.
"He certainly has some Alex Rance moments every now and then which makes me pull my hair out," Hardwick said.
"But he's a quality player. He wins the ball back (with intercepts and spoils in defence).
"We rate him very, very highly."
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