Richmond captain Toby Nankervis concedes he's no certainty to be fit for an AFL opening-round clash with former coach Damien Hardwick's Gold Coast as he battles a foot injury.
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Like key forward Tom Lynch (foot), Nankervis is battling to feature in the season's early rounds and won't play in Tuesday's practice match against Collingwood.
It opens the door for former Swan Sam Naismith, who could become the feel-good story of the summer by capping off his AFL career lifeline with a Tigers debut.
"I'll have my big session (on Tuesday). It's sort of session-to-session at the moment," Nankervis said on Monday.
"So hopefully I can get through that and pull up well and hopefully play early in the season.
"Sam Naismith and Samson Ryan have both had great summers. They've done most of the work.
"So we're in a great spot in that department I think. If that happens, I'll be rapt for big Sammy.
"He's a great person and he's had some hardship, but he's been playing some great footy as well."
Naismith, 31, whose Sydney career was ruined by three knee reconstructions, signed in November after a strong VFL season at Port Melbourne.
"He's very determined, very competitive and he wants to play AFL footy," Nankervis said.
"That's the reality of it, he's not here to play VFL footy so he's doing whatever he can."
Nankervis couldn't put a firm timeline on when Lynch, whose 2023 was ruined by a broken foot, would return.
"He's training a lot at the moment," he said.
"There's no rush with Lynchy. Obviously we want him to play every game but when he's back we want him to be back for the whole season.
"So I'm not sure - early parts of the season I'm hearing, but I'm not sure what round."
Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin is poised to have more midfield minutes this season, after spending more time up forward last year.
He will join the likes of Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper and Dion Prestia in the thick of things.
"He's trained in summer in that part of the ground but we know he's really dangerous up forward as well. So I'm sure he'll play a bit of both," Nankervis said.
"It's a real strength of our group, the depth in the midfield that we've got. Thomson Dow as well, he's had a great summer and Dion is a star of the competition.
"We've got so much depth there which we probably hadn't had over the last couple of years so hopefully everyone can stay injury-free and really attack that part of the game."
Australian Associated Press
