Richmond is looking to its group of youngsters to emerge as challengers for senior spots in 2014.

Coach Damien Hardwick is breeding a healthy competition for playing spots at the ME Bank Centre this pre-season, which he hopes will drive the next crop of senior Tigers.

“We’re probably looking for (players from) the draft three years ago to step up ... the Reece Conca draft,” Hardwick said.

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“We’re really looking forward to getting those players in, and even last year’s second and third round picks – guys like Matthew McDonough, Kamdyn McIntosh and Liam McBean.

“We’re really excited about how those guys are going to perform.

“The great thing is it’s certainly putting pressure on the players up front, which is always a good place to be.”

After breaking its finals drought in 2013, playing in the finals for the first time since 2001, Richmond will enter the new season optimistically.

“We’re not setting a ceiling, but we’re certainly setting a floor.  We are like 17 other clubs who are looking to play finals again,” Hardwick said.

“The important thing for us is to get our group focussed on that early part of the season.  The final eight rarely changes after about round 12 or 13. 

“We’ve got to make sure we’re in the eight at the start of the year, and continue to win games.”