After a month of impressing against top sides, but failing to scrape over the line, Richmond midfielder Richard Tambling says the Tigers are confident of finally breaking through for a win against struggling Essendon on Saturday night.

Richmond's past four results have been a draw with the unbeaten Western Bulldogs, a 12-point loss to unbeaten Hawthorn, a three-point loss to St Kilda and a 30-point loss to unbeaten Geelong, after leading at half-time.

"We've been coming close to the top teams in recent weeks and this is one that we're expected to win," Tambling said of the MCG clash.

"So it's good to be able to get out there in the Dreamtime game and try to get a win up."

Tambling said the run of close shaves had not sapped the club of any confidence in their ability to clinch a match.

"The morale at the club at the moment is amazing, as (it was) last year," he said.

"We didn't have a good year last year but the morale was excellent.

"We've got the same bunch of blokes here now and we're all upbeat and we know we're playing some good footy, so if we can keep doing it this weekend it would be good.

"We're just going to go out there and try to play the footy we have been for the past month and hopefully (the result) will take care of itself."

The match will be the fourth Dreamtime at the G encounter between the two clubs, a concept designed to celebrate the contribution of the indigenous community to the AFL.

As one of two indigenous players in the Richmond side for the game, along with Shane Edwards, Tambling said he would relish the spotlight of the occasion.

"It's all eyes on you and you sort of stand out a bit and it gives you that bit of confidence (to show some) flair," he said.

He said for the club as a whole it was one of their most significant games.

"This is one of those matches where it's pretty big for Richmond and pretty big for the people that it represents," he said.

Essendon have made four changes, with Nathan Lovett-Murray and Adam McPhee back from suspension and Jobe Watson returning from injury, while Ricky Dyson was recalled.

Veterans Mal Michael and Adam Ramanauskas were among those axed from the side, after the Bombers lost their past three matches by 10 goal-plus margins.

The Tigers made two changes, with Jay Schulz and Adam Pattison replacing Luke McGuane and Mitch Morton.

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