Richmond premiership backman David Astbury has convinced coach Damien Hardwick of his fitness for Friday night’s preliminary final despite illness.

Astbury was sent home from training on Thursday and effectively quarantined from his teammates after suffering flu-like symptoms.

Richmond gave Astbury all of Friday to show he’d be well enough to play, and was duly named as part of an unchanged team to face Collingwood at the MCG.

First-year defender Ryan Garthwaite, named as an emergency, was on stand-by, but won’t need to change out of his suit.

The reigning premiers spent the week insisting superstar midfielder Dustin Martin would play despite a “significant corkie”.

The 27-year-old has also been named.

Setbacks in September, even if minor, generate incredible fascination and Martin’s corked thigh has been no exception this week.

The reigning Brownlow Medallist completed a light training session on Thursday – in full-length skins – and was named in an unchanged team.

Collingwood also opted for an unchanged side – Ben Reid, Jack Madgen, Jarryd Blair and Callum Brown were their emergencies.