Richmond has yet to make a decision on the selection of Dustin Martin ahead of the club's trip west to face Fremantle in Round 17.
Martin was subbed out of last Sunday's loss to Carlton due to back spasms, with the veteran Tiger ending the afternoon with a career-low seven disposals.
The Tigers have kept Martin in the selection mix despite a quieter week on the track and the long interstate flight to Perth, with Martin to be given Thursday's main training session to prove his fitness ahead of the Fremantle match.
Martin trained alongside key forward Tom Lynch (hamstring) away from the main group to start the session, with Richmond coach Adem Yze noting that a short turnaround and travel will also factor into the club's decision-making at selection for Martin.
"He's better. He's going to try and train today," Yze said.
"We only had a light session the other day, just a flush run. So we didn't do anything that was going to be a test for him on Tuesday.
"So today's going to be main session, see how he goes and we'll make a decision later this afternoon.
"A six-day beak, sore back. One, we want to make sure his back is OK, and then we'll make a decision on his full body and whether the six-day break and the travel is going to be a bit too much."
Despite coming up against the Dockers' three-pronged tall attack of Luke Jackson, Jye Amiss and Josh Treacy, Yze is likely to start swingman forward following his three-goal performance against the Blues.
Lynch's absence saw Balta return forward and had Mid-Season Draft recruit Jacob Blight his AFL debut, with the newest Tiger doing a formidable job alongside Ben Miller on Yze's last line.
"Well, it's gonna be out of necessity. So depending on how we go today and who gets through (will we know where Balta plays)," Yze added.
"We thought Jacob Blight did a really good job on the weekend along with Ben Miller against two of the best forwards in a comp. Touch-wood, if they get through training today we'll stick with that.
"We wish we had two Noah Baltas at the moment. But while we're dealing with what we're dealing with and Lynch is still a week or two away, we need that forward presence.
"We'll probably stick with [Balta forward] to start."
Young ruck-forward Samson Ryan is a live chance to come back into Yze's side following a recent ankle injury, with the tall Tiger to undergo fitness tests on Thursday despite being listed to return next weekend.
With potential help needed in attack, coupled with captain Toby Nankervis' task of going up against Sean Darcy and Jackson, Ryan could be called on for a role at Optus Stadium should he get through main training unscathed.
Tall forward Jacob Koschitzke is the likely Tiger to assist Nankervis in the ruck should Ryan not be cleared to play.
