Richmond have used a heat chamber in an attempt to avoid a second half fade-out in their historic AFL clash with Gold Coast in Cairns on Saturday.

Richmond's rebounding half back Brett Deledio said the side used the heat chamber at least six times in the past fortnight to try to acclimatise to the warmer than usual winter playing conditions.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a high of 26 and showers in Cairns on Saturday, which is 10 degrees warmer than Melbourne where the Tigers are based.

Deledio said the Tigers' training program has centered around aerobic work and has been slightly more intense than the lead-up to their 15-point loss to Port Adelaide in the stifling Darwin humidity in May.

On that occasion, the Tigers led by nine points at halftime, but faded in the final two quarters and were outscored six goals to 10 by the lowly Power.

The loss was put down to Port's ability to handle the extreme conditions much better.

"We've spent probably three sessions this week in the heat chamber and last week as well, to try and get ready for the different climate," Deledio told reporters on Friday.

"It's to get used to the humidity and we were on the (training) bikes.

"We had one twenty minute session and two thirty minute sessions (each week).

There have been pre-season AFL matches played at Cazaly Stadium over the past decade, but the Tigers-Suns clash is the first for premiership points.

Richmond have committed to playing one home game against the Suns at the venue until 2013.

The financially stricken club has been criticised for giving up their distinct home ground advantage and transferring games to Darwin and Cairns, especially after they lost to the Power.

Deledio said the Tigers had not only learned from the loss to Port Adelaide but needed to avenge their last quarter capitulation to Essendon last week.

"We were in the game up until three quarter time and we didn't fight it out," he said.

"You have to learn from your mistakes but we did a lot right for three quarters."

Suns defender Jarrod Harbow talked down the prospect of the heat giving the Suns an advantage.

In fact Harbrow, who was originally recruited from Cairns, said his team-mates had been drilling him for information on how the heat would effect them personally.

"I don't know what they are complaining and they were stressing it was going to be too hot up here," Harbrow said.

"It will suit them and us as well, we are a young team and it will suit our game style."

Both sides held meet and greet signing sessions for local AFL fans but none got a bigger welcome than the Suns' skipper Gary Ablett.

The Brownlow medallist received a rockstar reception when he emerged from the training rooms, to be swamped by hip-high fans wanting high fives and his autograph.

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