Red-hot Richmond must win in unfamiliar surroundings on Saturday to avoid pushing their long-suffering supporters back into all-too-familiar territory.

The Tigers enter the final home and away round clinging onto eighth spot, but knowing they control their destiny.

A ninth straight win in the clash with ladder-leading Sydney at ANZ Stadium would clinch just their third finals berth in the past 19 seasons.

But a loss to a Swans side seeking a 17th win in their last 18 games would effectively put them out of the playoffs race.

“There’s going to be some pressure and we believe our guys will stand up and play well,” Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

As if beating the premiership favourites wasn’t a stiff enough assignment, Richmond have to cause the upset at a ground of which they have virtually no experience.

The Tigers’ only previous game at ANZ Stadium was back in 2002 and the only member of the current side to have played a senior match there is Bachar Houli who did so during his time at Essendon.

On the bright side, it could still be a friendlier venue than the SCG, where the Tigers have lost their last seven and last won a decade ago.

The Tigers have travelled well this season, winning all four of their interstate fixtures since an opening-round away loss to Gold Coast.

Hardwick backed Tigers supporters to make their presence felt.

“They’re louder than most other opposition supporters,” he said.

“If we can get 10,000 people up there they’ll make the noise of 30,000, I guarantee you.”

Richmond, for whom Chris Newman will play his 250th game, welcome back Dustin Martin, but Ty Vickery has only been named as an emergency after completing a four-match suspension.

The Tigers’ hopes have been boosted by the absence of a few key Swans.

Influential midfielders Josh Kennedy, Ben McGlynn and Craig Bird are all missing another game due to injury and No.1 ruckman Mike Pyke has pulled out through illness.

Sydney, who look almost certain to finish first, will pitch debutant Sam Naismith into the ruck, with Kurt Tippett and the returning Sam Reid as backup.

Swans coach John Longmire is certainly wary of a Tigers side that hasn’t lost since an 11-point defeat by Sydney at the MCG when the Swans were restricted to their second lowest score of the season.

“They’ve been more aggressive in their ball movement,” said Longmire.

“With their contested ball and clearance work they’ve been really strong at that.

“They’ve had some senior players come back into the team that have really made a difference as well.

“They’ve got a bit of self-belief and confidence.

“Eight in a row, they are in red-hot form, they’re the form team of the competition at the moment.”