Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says AFL juggernauts Collingwood are beatable.

But it is a statement made with fine print and a mighty large asterisk.

"Every side's got their weak spots," Hardwick said ahead of his side's clash with the premiers at the MCG on Friday night.

"We think there's a couple of areas that we can exploit them but we need everything going right for us to get that going.

"The great thing about our guys is they never give up every week.

"Three times this year we've kicked seven goals in a quarter. We're capable of kicking a winning score and defensively we're capable of competing."

For Hardwick, Collingwood are a developmental measuring stick.

Beating them may well be beyond the Tigers right now, as the coach readily admits.

But Hardwick wants to see his side getting closer.

He pinpoints two key areas - contested possessions and tackling - as pivotal to seeing where Richmond sits in relation to the competition's best.

"They're a great side - well-disciplined and well-coached," Hardwick said.

"They're something we aspire to be, but we're a fair way behind development-wise. They've been playing together for five or six years - we're in year two.

"It's a great challenge for our guys and we think we can put it up to the Pies."

Collingwood are unbeaten in three matches and looking ominous in their pursuit of back-to-back flags.

Richmond stretched last year's grand finalists St Kilda a fortnight ago and probably deserved a win before having to settle for a draw.

But they were smashed by 63 points by Hawthorn in the rain last weekend and more wet weather beckons on Friday night.

The Tigers will add tall defender Will Thursfield to their side to aid youngster Dylan Grimes.

Thursfield missed the Hawthorn match with an ankle problem.

The pair will have to contend with in-form power forwards Chris Dawes and Travis Cloke and effective pinch-hitter Leigh Brown.

In just his second senior game, Grimes was forced to battle solo against the might of Hawthorn's Lance Franklin last weekend.

"They've got some key talls down there and we'll have our hands full again," Hardwick said.

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