Richmond has suffered a massive blow ahead of its Thursday night clash with Adelaide, losing skipper Trent Cotchin to another hamstring complaint.

Cotchin has missed seven matches this season with a hamstring injury and has pulled up sore in the same muscle.

The Tigers' head of football Neil Balme said Cotchin hadn't reinjured his hamstring but will miss regardless.

"Funny you ask me that, he's not going to play, he's sore. It puts a bit more pressure on, but that's all right," Balme told reporters at Melbourne Airport.

"He's just a bit sore in the hamstring, but it's not the same. I reckon if he hadn't have had the problem before, he would have played.

"The fact we're playing on the Thursday makes it more difficult. If we'd played on Saturday or Sunday [he was a chance], but we won't take the risk."

There isn't a clear-cut midfield replacement for Cotchin. A small forward such as Daniel Rioli, Jack Higgins or Liam Baker could spend more time in the middle if Bolton comes into the side.

Grab your tickets for a massive Thursday night clash with Richmond