RICHMOND premiership defender Bachar Houli has undergone minor finger surgery while in rehabilitation for a groin injury.
The 30-year-old had the operation last week as he continues to work his way back from the medium-term groin complaint he sustained in round 10 against St Kilda.
"It was just a very minor thing that he was battling for the last couple of weeks, so it was a chance to get that sorted out," Richmond's physical performance manager Peter Burge told richmondfc.com.au.
Houli didn't train with the group on Wednesday but has started running and is eyeing off a round 16 return in the second Grand Final rematch of the season against Adelaide.
"He's slowly starting to condition again, and once his groin symptoms are completely gone, then we can accelerate his progression quickly," Burge said.
Dion Prestia did take part in the session having recovered somewhat from the calf injury he picked up in round seven.
The premiership midfielder hasn't suffered soreness for nearly two weeks and is working through a "mini pre-season" in an attempt to be fit enough to withstand the Tigers' run to the finals.
He is expected to play after the Tigers' round 14 bye.
Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin trained with his teammates after spending the weekend in New Zealand visiting his father.
Martin had been carrying a sore calf for a few weeks leading into last Friday night's clash with Port Adelaide and was given time to rest.
However, he is expected to line up against Geelong on Sunday at the MCG.
"He had a good running session [on Monday] and he's symptom free," Burge said.
"He just needed an extra day or two from the soreness of last week.
"Unfortunately, with the six-day break, we just got caught a tiny bit short.
"He'll be fine for this week. We expect him to train all week and play."
While the Tigers were initially bullish about the prospect of David Astbury overcoming the ankle injury he sustained against the Power, he failed to train on Wednesday.
Astbury finished Friday night's loss but was still sore at the start of this week.
He will be given another chance to train again ahead of Sunday in a bid to prove his fitness.
Captain Trent Cotchin, defenders Nathan Broad and Ryan Garthwaite and winger Kamdyn McIntosh were among those on light duties on Wednesday.
Livewire Daniel Rioli trained as he continues to press his case for a call-up after four VFL hit-outs following his Grand Final foot injury.
He sent a scare through the Richmond camp during Sunday's VFL loss to Williamstown when his surgically repaired foot was stood on in the fourth quarter.
But, he has been deemed fit to play this week after a five-day break between his third VFL game and Friday's loss to the Power ruined his chances of selection last week.
"He's absolutely fine. He just got stood on, it was over the scar on his foot," Burge said.
"But he was doing his conditioning after the game that we've carefully planned.
"He's played some really good minutes in the last couple of weeks. It's been a good preparation, he's really embraced the long-term approach and he's in a position now where hopefully he can step up to the next level."
Meanwhile, Oleg Markov will miss at least a month after injuring the medial collateral ligament in his knee in the VFL, but ruckman Ivan Soldo is available after being a late withdrawal from the same game with an infected toe.
But, Sam Lloyd won't play at any level this weekend after he accepted a one-game VFL suspension for rough conduct for an incident in the third quarter on Sunday.
