Luckless Richmond utility Chris Knights is set to make his return to the playing field this weekend, following his latest injury setback.

Knights is available to play after recovering from a hamstring he suffered in Round 3 against Brisbane.

He is expected to spend reduced minutes on the field in Richmond’s VFL match against North Ballarat on Sunday.

The game against the Lions earlier this season was his first at AFL level for almost two years, after a patella tendon injury in 2013 began a series of injury setbacks.

The 28-year-old has been cruelled by injuries since arriving at Tigerland at the end of the 2012 season as an unrestricted free agent from the Adelaide Crows.

In other injury news, ruckman Shaun Hampson and key defender Todd Elton with both face fitness tests before they are considered for selection this week.

Talented first-year midfielder Corey Ellis is expected to return within a fortnight, while Reece Conca is nudging ever closer to recovering from a hamstring injury.

See Richmond’s full injury list