RICHMOND will be considering going in unchanged to Friday night’s Preliminary Final against Port Adelaide but could bring in another tall option to counter the Power’s dual ruck threats.
Port has consistently played Scott Lycett and Peter Ladhams through the ruck and Tigers big man Toby Nankervis may need back-up to deal with their threat in the middle.
Against the Saints, he was given a chop out by defender David Astbury but Richmond coach Damien Hardwick and his selection committee are considering bringing the athletic Mabior Chol back into the side to help Nankervis.
Chol was among the better performers when the sides last met in a 21-point win to Port in Round 11, as was forward Jake Aarts, who was unlucky to be omitted along with Chol for the Semi-Final against St Kilda.
Aarts will be hoping for a recall, as will forward Josh Caddy and defender Oleg Markov who have been emergencies for the Tigers and in the mix for selection in recent weeks.
Astbury did not play against Port last time and was joined on the sideline by captain Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards, Dion Prestia, Bachar Houli and Jack Graham, while Port was also missing four of the side which featured in its Qualifying Final outing against Geelong.
The Tigers have won just five times in 13 appearances at Adelaide Oval and Port holds the overall advantage in the head to head battle, winning 19 and drawing one of the 33 encounters between the sides.
They have played seven times at Adelaide Oval with Port holding a narrow 4-3 advantage and that includes the only finals meeting between the sides, the 57-point Elimination Final win in 2014.
Richmond will name their side on Thursday evening for the game at Adelaide Oval the following night.