RICHMOND premiership defender Liam Baker will miss Thursday night's clash with Hawthorn as the Tigers strongly consider bringing back Josh Caddy from a calf injury.
Baker has returned home to Western Australia to deal with a personal family matter which will force at least one change from the side that drew with Collingwood last week.
IN THE MIX Who's a chance, who's under the pump?
Coach Damien Hardwick said any border quarantine issues with Baker being able to immediately return to Victoria had "all been taken care of."
He also threw up Jack Ross and Oleg Markov as potential inclusions, while Caddy is firming for a recall.
"He'll certainly put his hand up to play, there's a strong probability he'll come into the side," Hardwick said.
"He was stiff last week with that calf soreness and we thought we wouldn't take a risk."
Ross is a contender for the vacant half-back role having been trialled there at training, while Derek Eggmolesse-Smith will also throw his name into the selection mix.
Hardwick confirmed spearhead Tom Lynch would play after heading for scans earlier in the week on a sore ankle.
The Tigers will have a reserves scratch match against the Hawks on Thursday afternoon at the Swinburne Centre (Punt Road Oval) before the AFL match at the MCG.
