Richmond's stocks for Friday night's blockbuster clash with Collingwood have copped a further battering after star duo Dustin Martin and Jacob Hopper were ruled out of action.
Martin was subbed out of last Saturday's win over Adelaide with a hamstring issue, and the club has ruled him out this week with what they have labelled "general soreness".
The 31-year-old missed seven weeks last season with a hamstring injury, and the Tigers aren't willing to take any risks with the 2017 Brownlow medallist.
Hopper injured his knee last week, and Richmond were breathing a sigh of relief when the setback turned out to be minor.
Nevertheless, the former GWS midfielder will miss the match against the Magpies with both Hopper and Martin expected to return in round four against the Western Bulldogs.
The absence of Martin and Hopper against Collingwood comes on top of the losses of Jayden Short and Nathan Broad.
Short is out with a calf injury, while Broad was handed a four-match suspension for his sling tackle on Patrick Parnell.
In a rare dose of good news on the injury front, forward Tom Lynch is expected to play despite copping a cork last week.
The unbeaten Magpies are sweating on the fitness of forward Brody Mihocek (finger).
