Despite his limited involvement on the training track, Ben Cousins has had a significant impact on the playing list in his short time at Tigerland according to star utility Brett Deledio.

Cousins, who will be on a modified program for at least the next month or so after being controversially acquired by Richmond in last month's pre-season draft, worked away from the main group during Wednesday morning's session at Victoria Park.

The 30-year-old recovering drug addict may be just 'one of the boys' according to Deledio, but his decade of experience at West Coast also makes him an invaluable resource for his new team-mates.

"We've had a couple of chats as a midfield group … and he's had a couple of things to say," said Deledio after training.

"I've learned a few little tips off him but none that I want to disclose at the moment because I'll keep them up my sleeve - it's things the (Eagles) did in their successful years."

"I've already learned something off him and if he can do that for all the other young guys then he's proved his point to be here."

Midfielder Shane Tuck and veteran forwards Matthew Richardson and Nathan Brown, as well as Deledio himself were among a group of high-profile players who took things relatively easy on Wednesday.

But Deledio said nothing too much should be read into the fact he had a quiet session and declared that 'everything's sweet'.

"I'm just easing back - I've done everything so far, so I'm making sure I don't get any niggles," he said.

Asked if Richmond would field a full-strength side for the club's first round NAB Cup fixture against Fremantle at Subiaco on 15 February, Deledio said: "We want to try and win as many games as we can to get some confidence among the group."

"But then going from there it's hard to say - we might look to rest some older guys and we could play young kids."

"The last four years that I've been here we haven’t gone past the (NAB Cup) first round so I'd like to have a go at the second one."

"I think it would make a good statement, yeah - it would get the supporters behind us going into round one."

Deledio said there had been a stronger focus on skills work during the pre-season at the expense of match simulation, but he said that running remained a constant and the good times being recorded around 'the tan' and Princes Park suggest the squad is in top shape.

He said the high hopes of the club's long-suffering supporters for a successful 2009 were being shared by everyone at Punt Road.

"We're all confident in each other's ability and we’re looking to improve on last year, so that's where out expectations are," Deledio said.