Tom Lynch has been declared "a lock" for Richmond's AFL season opener next month as he recovers from his latest injury setback. Tigers coach Adem Yze expects Lynch to play in their pre-season match against Collingwood later this month, ahead of the traditional round-one clash on March 13 against Carlton. Richmond's No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor will have a run on Monday, during the informal hitout against West Coast in Perth. Lynch has only managed eight games over the last two seasons because of foot and hamstring injuries. The key forward sent a scare through Richmond late last month when he was in a collision at training and had to go into the 12-day concussion protocol. But Yze told the AFL website on Tuesday one of Richmond's most important players is progressing well. "He is a lock for round one," the second-year Richmond coach said. "He got pushed into someone's knee and got a bit angry. "The minute he went down, you just went 'please don't be any arm, limb, finger, knee'. It was almost a relief - he walked off the ground. "With the stuff he has been through, the fact that he went into the protocols, he will be all sweet for round one. Yze is also upbeat about Lalor, who had a serious hamstring injury last September ahead of joining the Tigers with their No.1 pick. He led six picks in the first round of the draft for the rebuilding Tigers. "There was no way known we would risk him if he didn't have the right training load under his belt," Yze said of Lalor. "He has done everything asked of him after Christmas since we upped the ante. "You look at him and he is a man. He is ready to go."