Richmond will rest star recruit Ben Cousins for another week in an effort to ensure his eventual AFL return is not hit by another injury.

The Brownlow medallist has not played since tearing his hamstring in the disastrous round-one loss to Carlton.

There were hopes that Cousins would play for VFL affiliates Coburg this weekend.

Trent Cotchin and Andrew Raines will turn out for Coburg as they return from injury.

But Cousins' history of hamstring injuries, his year out of the game and his age (30) mean the Tigers will take no chances.

"He's done all the training and we just got to the stage where we thought to give him an extra week," said coach Terry Wallace.

"Just on the circumstances behind his injuries, it's longer than you would normally take, but he's different than a normal player.

"Particularly the medical staff, but (also) myself, I wanted to have him on the training week absolutely for a week and a half to two weeks, where you know he's done everything in his powers.

"Then you make a decision, do we bring him back through senior footy or VFL football?"

Wallace also said a slight groin tear was the reason Nathan Brown had struggled for form in the last fortnight and is now out of the side.

The Tigers made four changes for Saturday night's game against North Melbourne, recalling Mark Coughlan, Adam Pattison, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls and Richard Tambling.

Troy Simmonds, Tom Hislop and Daniel Connors were the other omissions.

Wallace noted Brown was the side's best player in their last pre-season game.

"You don't go from that sort of form to really battling," Wallace said.

"Particularly in the last fortnight, it's been a bit of a battle for him.

"He's wanted to continue to get out there, he's had to have injections over the last week or so to play.

"It just got to the stage where he couldn't do his job to his capabilities."

The Tigers coach added there was nothing to Simmonds' omission, other than the simple fact that the ruck-forward is out of form.

"It's no more than an omission and this time last year, he represented Victoria," Wallace said.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP