Richmond coach Adem Yze will be without star midfielder Dustin Martin for his first game in charge of the Tigers.
Yze confirmed to media on Thursday morning that Martin won't feature in Saturday's clash with Gold Coast due to a recent calf issue.
Martin sustained the injury at training earlier this week and underwent subsequent scans, with the club giving the triple Norm Smith Medal winner until Thursday to prove his fitness.
The club has since made the call to keep Martin in Melbourne, where he'll now aim to return in a week's time for Richmond's Round 1 clash with Carlton.
The five-day turnaround will mean Martin is no certainty for selection for the Tigers' second game of the season, with the Brownlow medallist remaining a watch for next week also.
"The risk of him playing this weekend is going to be too high," Yze said,
"We've got a five-day break leading into the Carlton game and he's too important for us."
Key forward Tom Lynch is in a similar position as he looks to return from a foot injury that has hindered him since April last year, while captain Toby Nankervis is also under an injury cloud with his own foot issue.
Nankervis' potential absence will open the door for recruit Sam Naismith to make his Richmond debut, with emerging tall Samson Ryan also in the selection mix.
Forward Jacob Koschitzke is expected to play his first game in the yellow and black on Saturday, while small attacking options Steely Green and Seth Campbell have put their hands up for a potential debut against the Suns after strong pre-seasons.
Midfielder Jack Graham will miss the opening month of the season due to a quad injury, giving pre-season standout Thomson Dow more of a chance to show his value when he lines up against his old coach Damien Hardwick.
Veteran onballer Dion Prestia is also good to go despite a recent hamstring issue.
Richmond will name their 23-man side and a three-man emergency list for Saturday's Opening Round clash against the Suns on Thursday evening.
