Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says AFL juggernaut Collingwood is beatable - but it is a statement made with fine print and a mighty large asterisk.
"Every side's got their weak spots," Hardwick said ahead of his side's clash with the premiers at the MCG tonight.
"We think there's a couple of areas that we can exploit them, but we need everything going right for us to get that going.
"The great thing about our guys is they never give up every week.
"Three times this year we've kicked seven goals in a quarter.
"We're capable of kicking a winning score and defensively we're capable of competing."
For Hardwick, Collingwood is a developmental measuring stick.
Beating the Magpies may well be beyond the Tigers right now, as the coach readily admits.
But Hardwick wants to see his side getting closer.
He pinpoints two key areas - contested possessions and tackling - as pivotal to seeing where Richmond sits in relation to the competition's best.
"They're a great side - well-disciplined and well-coached," Hardwick said.
"They're something we aspire to be, but we're a fair way behind development-wise.
"They've been playing together for five or six years - we're in year two.
"It's a great challenge for our guys and we think we can put it up to the Pies."
Collingwood is unbeaten in three matches and looking ominous in its pursuit of back-to-back flags.
Richmond stretched last year's grand finalist St Kilda a fortnight ago and probably deserved a win before having to settle for a draw.
But the Tigers were smashed by 63 points by Hawthorn in the rain last weekend and more wet weather beckons on Friday night.
Former Melbourne tall utility Brad Miller will play his first game for the Tigers, while Mitch Morton was dropped and Daniel Connors has a leg injury.
Tall defender Will Thursfield has also been named to aid youngster Dylan Grimes, after missing the loss to Hawthorn with an ankle problem.
The pair will have to contend with in-form power-forwards Chris Dawes and Travis Cloke and effective pinch-hitter Leigh Brown.
In just his second senior game, Grimes was forced to battle solo against the might of Hawthorn's Lance Franklin last weekend.
"They've got some key talls down there and we'll have our hands full again," Hardwick said.
Two-time premiership ruckman Darren Jolly is out of Collingwood's side because of illness.
-AAP
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