Port Adelaide assistant coach Brett Montgomery says it won’t fall into the trap of taking injury and suspension-hit Richmond lightly

A wary Port Adelaide says it won’t take 2017 premier Richmond lightly at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, despite the Tigers likely being without their four best players.

Jack Trengove gets one of his 42 disposals for the Port Magpies against South Adelaide on Saturday. Picture: TOM HUNTLEY.

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Port Adelaide says it won’t fall into the trap of taking 2017 premier Richmond lightly at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, despite the Tigers likely being without their four best players.

The Power will start a short-priced favourite after lead ruckman Scott Lycett and exciting rookie Zak Butters were handed fines but cleared to play following their reports for rough conduct in the loss to Brisbane.

In contrast, Richmond Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin was handed a two-match suspension for his off-the-ball strike on Greater Western Sydney’s Adam Kennedy.

Scott Lycett is free to take on Richmond after being offered a fine by the MRO. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

He is set to be joined on the sidelines by fellow Tigers stars Alex Rance (knee), Jack Riewoldt (wrist) and captain Trent Cotchin (hamstring).

Only classy midfielder Cotchin is yet to have a line drawn through his availability.

Richmond hasn’t played a game without the star quartet for 10 years.

“There will be a lot of unknowns if all those guys aren’t there,’’ Port assistant coach Brett Montgomery said.

“We’ll make some plans off that but sometimes it is better the devil you know and easier to play with the stars there.

“We won’t take any shortcuts because their pressure game, regardless of who suits up for them, is high level.

“They are still trying to get that exactly where they need it and probably haven't hit the highs in the first three games that they would have liked.’’

Richmond's injury and suspension crisis has left it reeling.

It has lost its past two games and is ripe for the picking against Port, which has a 2-1 record and dodged an MRO bullet.

Lycett copped a $2000 fine for his high bump on Lion Mitch Robinson while young teammate Butters escaped with the same sanction for his collision with Hugh McCluggage.

Montgomery confirmed midfield ball magnet Tom Rockliff (concussion) and star forward/midfielder Robbie Gray (shoulder) were tracking well from heavy knocks suffered against the Lions and should play against the Tigers.

Vice-captain Hamish Hartlett, who hasn’t played an AFL game since round five last year following a knee reconstruction, is poised to return from a minor hamstring injury in the SANFL against North Adelaide on Sunday after missing round two.

“His plan at this point is to suit up for the Magpies this week,” Montgomery said.

“It was just a small hiccup, a bit of awareness, and with his history and where we wanted to take him in the future, we just thought he needed to sit out for a week and rebuild.”

Jack Trengove gets one of his 42 disposals for the Port Magpies against South Adelaide on Saturday. Picture: TOM HUNTLEY

Montgomery said fellow veteran defender Matthew Broadbent was close to an AFL recall after two strong performances in the SANFL following a long-term foot/ankle problem.

Former Demon Jack Trengove — the No. 2 pick at the 2009 national draft — is also knocking the door down for selection after two stunning weeks in the SANFL where he has averaged 43 disposals, 10 marks, 10 tackles and seven clearances.

“He is part of those (selection) conversations, which is a great thing for him,’’ Montgomery said.

“If we looked at him in the pre-season, his (AFL) availability and whether he would be knocking the door down this early in the season, I’m not too sure what the answer would have been. But he can’t do any more.’’