Dustin Martin will captain Richmond against Adelaide on Thursday night after the Tigers lost both Shane Edwards and Trent Cotchin to hamstring injuries.

The Tigers made the decision to give the Brownlow medallist and fan favourite the role after training in Adelaide on Thursday and he will become the fourth captain to lead the team this season.

The decision is just reward for Martin who has been the Tigers best player since 2017 when he had one of the best individual seasons in the game's history to lead Richmond to a drought-breaking premiership.

His elevation will give the Tigers a boost after losing Cotchin, who returned a fortnight ago from his hamstring injury. He is believed to be feeling sore with his hamstring not recovering in time to play in the clash at Adelaide Oval.

Edwards is suffering hamstring tendinitis but is expected to be available after the bye when Richmond play St Kilda.

Cotchin has played the last two games following a seven-week lay off with the same hamstring injury and Edwards, who was All-Australian last year, had stood in as captain in all but one game when Jack Riewoldt returned from injury to lead the team, only to be forced out after one game due to a knee injury.

The Tigers have battled manfully against a growing injury toll however they have lost their last two matches and are searching for the bye in order to get players back.