HEADING into a match as clear favourite for the first time in years will bring new challenges to a developing Melbourne side, according to sidelined youngster Cale Morton.

The Demons face winless Richmond at the MCG on Sunday, with Tigers coach Damien Hardwick making wholesale changes after suspending four players for off-field incidents.

Melbourne, on the other hand, is fresh off a win against injury-ravaged Adelaide and an impressive performance against Collingwood in round two.

Morton said the Dees' turn of form had encouraged a different mindset ahead of this game.

"In my time at the club we've never been favourites, or certainly never started favourites in a match," Morton told BigPond Sports Weekend on Saturday.

"We were up at half time against Adelaide and Adelaide were still the favourites there.

"So it's something new for us, we're going to have to deal with that and hopefully it's something that occurs more."

Morton, who was Melbourne's first pick at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft (No.4 overall), said there had been plenty of changes at the club since his arrival and that it was now on the right path.

He also said there had been a quick transition since the deflating 56-point loss to Hawthorn in round one.

"It just goes to show how footy is. One week you can be losing by one point, [and] the next week you're winning," he said.

"After the win over Adelaide we're going in favourites tomorrow against Richmond. So it could have been three on the trot.

"A week's a long time in footy, but the boys and the team seem to be coming along alright.

"We've made a few changes there in my three years at the club and everything seems to be on the up."

Morton, who is expected to return from a knee injury through the VFL in two weeks, confirmed Colin Sylvia would play his first game for the season after suffering a broken jaw in the NAB Challenge loss to West Coast.