Dion Prestia battling achilles soreness ahead of final, Toby Nankervis set to face Lions

Dion Prestia has been battling achilles soreness, while Toby Nankervis is no certainty to return for the qualifying final despite banging the door down in the VFL. Will they make the trip to the Gabba?

Toby Nankervis and Dion Prestia have overcome injuries for the Tigers.

Dion Prestia has declared himself fit to take on Brisbane despite some lingering achilles pain ahead of Saturday’s final against Brisbane.

The Tigers players including Prestia went through a rigorous Saturday training session to ensure they kept up their training loads ahead of Saturday night’s qualifying final.

All top four sides are aware they might endure another week off if they win through to the preliminary final so are desperate not to loose too much conditioning.

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For Prestia it was a chance to show he will be fit to play after pulling up sore in the round 23 victory over Brisbane.

“I like the (bye), it was just a chance to refresh a bit. It was a pretty big session yesterday to replicate a half (of footy) so it’s been good. I guess we will have a normal week. Head up on Friday so it should be pretty exciting to get up there,” he told Channel 9.

The Tigers will be desperate for ruckman Toby Nankervis to pull up well in coming days after his match-winning VFL finals performance off groin issues on Saturday.

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Dion Prestia will face the Lions in their crucial Qualifying Final despite pulling up sore from their Round 23 hit-out. Picture: AAP Image

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Nankervis not only kicked the winning goal in the final seconds as Richmond came from 40 points down at three-quarter time, his midfield dominance was complete.

After a quieter first half he finished with 22 possessions, a dozen clearances, 33 hitouts and seven score involvements.

He could pair with ruckman Ivan Soldo, potentially at the expense of Noah Balta, who pulled up sore and didn’t play VFL after taking part in the Round 23 win over the Lions.

Toby Nankervis kicked the winning goal in a starring performance in the VFL. Picture: Michael Klein

Soldo’s last three weeks have been the most consistent of his career, winning 14 possessions and 29 hitouts against Brisbane, although his hit-out-to-advantage win percentage remains at just over 11 per cent.

Balta had only five possessions against the Lions and while he and Mabior Chol can play forward the Tigers would be unlikely to drop Soldo, despite his lack of forward craft.

He has rumbled forward from the ruck to kick a goal in five of his past seven games but doesn't play as a traditional forward, so he or Nankervis would spend plenty of time on the bench under a two-ruck setup.

Originally published as Dion Prestia battling achilles soreness ahead of final, Toby Nankervis set to face Lions