Ben Cousins could yet play in the AFL's pre-season competition, but the former Eagles star is not expected to play in the opening round at his old home ground, Subiaco Oval.

Richmond assistant coach Brian Royal said the club was thrilled with Cousins' progress since returning to training after Christmas, but he remains on a modified program.

"Ben's been fantastic, he's done everything we've asked of him," Royal said. "From our point of view, we have to pull him back. He's really keen and wants to do everything at 100 per cent."

Cousins's father, Brian, watched the former West Coast captain and Brownlow medallist train yesterday at Victoria Park.

Royal said the 30-year-old's training loads were assessed daily, and coaching and fitness staff were quick to "pull him back" if he pulled up sore.

"We're just mindful he's missed a fair bit of footy over the last year-and-a-half and that we don't rush him back and he gets an injury because of that," Royal said.

"He's just so keen and wants to get back to where he was. The difficult part is controlling him … everything he does is 120 per cent, and he's got to understand at his age [and] the circumstances he's been under, with not playing footy, he's got to control the way he trains."

Royal said it was unlikely Cousins would play in the club's first NAB Cup match against Fremantle in Perth next month at Subiaco.

"We're still four weeks away from that, so we've just got to look at his progress. I'd be surprised if he plays the first one … we'll take no risks," Royal said.

Young midfielder Brett Deledio said Cousins had made a seamless adjustment to life at Punt Road and was keen to offer advice to younger players.

"We've had a couple of chats as a midfield group, and he's had a couple of really good things to say," Deledio said. "Benny's come along really well. He's fitting in and he's pretty much one of the boys now. He's on a modified program … but [from] what he's doing at training, he does set a pretty high standard."

Meanwhile, midfielder Mark Coughlan, who has not played a senior game since mid-2006, is on track to play the Dockers on February 15. "He's surprised us how well he's going and he's certainly in contention," Royal said.

After two knee reconstructions, the club's 2003 best and fairest winner's was season derailed by hamstring injuries last year.