BIG GUNS LOAD UP

Dusty, Jordy all set for the ultimate blockbuster

RIVAL superstars Dustin Martin and Jordan De Goey have been declared certain starters for Friday’s blockbuster preliminary final, as 2010 premiership coach Mick Malthouse questioned Richmond’s extended preparation.

Tickets will today go on sale for the most anticipated preliminary final in living memory, the Pies-Tigers clash tipped to top the 98,002 crowd that witnessed 2007’s Geelong-Collingwood prelim final.

Semi-final match-winner De Goey yesterday said he was ready to take on the Tigers after a rolled ankle suffered stepping on GWS midfielder Stephen Coniglio.

He could face a marquee match-up against five-time All Australian full back Alex Rance, who took him in Round 6 when he pushed forward from the midfield.

Richmond laughed off any concerns over Dustin Martin (corked leg) or Daniel Rioli (jarred finger) yesterday, the Tigers boasting a fully fit list apart from small forward Dan Butler.

“There is nothing wrong with them. It is the biggest non-story ever,’’ Richmond football boss Neil Balme said.

“We are in good shape. It’s only Dan Butler who is still having a go [at proving his fitness] but obviously it might be hard for him to push his way into the team.”

Richmond’s star-studded line-up had the weekend off and will return to training today, following the same routine as last year’s march to the premiership.

Richmond premiership player and Pies 2010 coach Malthouse questioned whether the Pies might be better placed with two games in quick succession rather than a single game from August 25 to September 21.

“One team has had 15 days to think about their opponent and the other has six days and goes: ‘Right, who do we play? OK, Richmond’. They haven’t had this overbearing load on their shoulders.

“I don’t say Richmond have but nonetheless they have had to sit and wait for their opponent. I think 15 days is a long time to work out you have a game of football.”

Richmond’s players did their own program off-site yesterday with Balme happy to follow last year’s timeline of games.

“It’s pretty hard to think of it as a disadvantage. We have just trained normally.

“If that’s a disadvantage, we want them.”

De Goey yesterday allayed fears surrounding the rolled ankle that forced him from the ground in the first quarter of Saturday night’s semi-final win and declared himself “fine”.

“I just landed on [Stephen] Coniglio’s leg unfortunately ... it was just one of those rolled ankles,” De Goey said.

Tyson Goldsack, a star on Saturday, said Collingwood would not use the short turnaround as any excuse.

“A six-day break in the modern era is not that tough,” he said on Channel 7.