Richmond’s star midfielder Trent Cotchin says it’s time for the Tigers to take the next step after showing steady improvement in the past two AFL seasons.

He says the Tigers have rebuilt the club virtually from scratch under Damien Hardwick, who’s entering his third season as coach.

Cotchin says after a couple of good developing years, it’s time to show further improvement.

The Tigers play last year’s finalists Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong and West Coast in the opening five rounds, starting with an MCG clash with the Blues on March 29.

“It’s the real deal now,” Cotchin said on Wednesday.

“We’ve started from scratch and we’ve built from pretty much the bottom.

“We’ve had a couple of really good developing years, and it’s time that we started taking those steps forward.”

Cotchin, 21, said the Tigers knew a good start against tough opposition would set the club on the path to potentially securing their first finals appearance since 2001.

“We’re not going to get hung up on talking about finals before the season even starts,” the 2011 best-and-fairest winner said.

“But it’ll be interesting to see where we’re at against the better sides, especially early in the season.

“Hopefully we can set a standard that takes us forward, and we do play finals at the end of the season.”

Hardwick is out of contract at the end of 2012.

“If the players play to the way that the coaches are coaching, then we should be in a good position come the end of the season,” Cotchin told the afl.com.au website.

Cotchin said key forward Jack Riewoldt was on track to play in the pre-season cup.

Riewoldt resumed full training two weeks ago following hip, finger and ankle surgeries.

The Tigers play Hawthorn and North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on February 17 in the opening round of the cup.

Cotchin has predicted draftees Brandon Ellis, Matthew Arnot and Todd Elton will push for senior selection during 2012.