However, skipper Trent Cotchin won't make the journey to Lavington Sports Ground in Albury, as he continues his bid to recover from hamstring soreness in time for round one.

Delidio has been nursing achilles soreness since last season but will captain the Tigers in the absence of Cotchin, as the club gears up for another season when expectations are high.

Coach Damien Hardwick said the 27-year-old was training on a lighter workload and would require careful management of the injury to ensure he could play as many games as possible this season.

"He'll only train once or twice a week at various stages, but from our point of view he's ready to go," he said.

"He's been in good form over the course of the pre-season, he'll be captain this week as well so we're looking forward to him playing."

While up to 15 senior players will play their first game of the year on Saturday, Cotchin is still at least another week away from returning and will be rested.

Hardwick said the Tigers wouldn't take any chances with such a key player at this point of the year.

"Look if we wanted to push the envelope regular season he could possibly play this week but from our point of view it's risk management," he said.

"Well just make sure he plays some minutes in NAB three and goes into round one primed."

Tigers fans will be keen to get a look at how Riewoldt performs up forward this week, after Hardwick said the powerful goalkicker was in the best physical shape he had seen him.

"I think he's going to have an outstanding year," he said.

"He's moving freely, he's destroying our defenders at the moment so we've just got to make sure we deliver the ball to him properly."

Hardwick said the intention was always to name a stronger team for the club's second NAB Challenge game, after playing the kids a fortnight ago against the Western Bulldogs.

He said he was impressed by the club's young players despite the 22-point loss to the Bulldogs and that competition for spots at the club was strong.

"There will be a number that will put up their hands that will quite possibly feature on the weekend, which is exciting for us," he said.

"(Kane) Lambert we thought played well, (Dan) Butler showed signs, (Reece) McKenzie, all these guys, we're really pleased with their performance"

After a sluggish beginning to 2014, Hardwick has sets his sights on a fast start to the season this year as the club looks to improve on its 12-10 record.

The Tigers had to win their last nine games on the trot last year to squeeze into the eight, only to be smashed in an embarrassing 57-point loss to the Power at Adelaide Oval in the elimination final.

Hardwick said the Tigers hadn't watched that game in the build-up to this week's return bout against Port.

"I think you'll find for most coaches this time of year, your opposition basically remains faceless," he said. "It's all about us and how we play."

Despite some minor injury concerns leading into round one, Hardwick pointed out that the Tigers had to contend with 15 surgeries last pre-season compared with a better run so far this year.

"Our squad's in a good place, they're very fit, they're looking forward to playing," he said.

"They're going to be a little bit rusty but we're in a good spot."