The prospect of Tom Lynch having a full summer program to prepare for 2025 could override Richmond's interest in getting the key forward back on the park this year.
Lynch, who has managed just one game since March because of hamstring injuries, will be in full training this week as the Tigers prepare for their first game since club great Dustin Martin's retirement.
Lynch won't play against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, but is a chance to feature against Hawthorn or Gold Coast over the final two rounds.
Coach Adem Yze said Richmond are considering taking a conservative route with the 31-year-old, who enters the final season of his lucrative seven-year deal in 2025.
"To play one game of AFL footy to finish off the season might be a bit too high-risk," Yze said.
"We'll make that decision at the end of next week when we'll have enough volume of training that we're in a position to make that decision.
"He hasn't had a pre-season for two years, so that might override all of that."
Lynch will be important to Richmond's chances of climbing away from the foot of the ladder in Yze's second season in charge, with the first destroyed by a raft of injuries.
The last-placed Tigers have used 41 players this season - more than any other club - and currently have 16 on their injury list.
Off-contract star Liam Baker was added on Thursday after suffering a concussion at training.
Baker, who looks set to play at West Coast or Fremantle next year, will miss the next two games due to being in concussion protocols.
At least eight of those won't play again until next year, including inexperienced pair Tom Brown (ankle/shoulder) and Steely Green (ankle/toe), who were this week ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
Green will be in a moon boot for the next four weeks, while Brown had surgery on a shoulder in recent days and is expected to recover in time for the start of next pre-season.
Despite the continued setbacks, the Tigers are eager to end a seven-match losing streak against the Saints and add to their two wins for the season.
"We've got a theme around finishing off the season strongly no matter what," Yze said.
"Whether we've got guys retiring or we've got injuries ... that's just going to give opportunities for new players to come into our side and do our club proud."
