North Melbourne great David King has outlined the four key factors which will determine whether Richmond can keep their premiership chances alive without star defender Alex Rance.

The All-Australian captain endured a devastating ACL injury during the third term of his side's opening round game against Carlton last week, forcing Tigers to consider life without their defensive weapon.

"I've probably stopped short a couple of times of saying, "They can't win without (Rance)'," King said on Fox Footy's AFL 360.

"But the more you watch - particularly from behind the goals - it's not that you can't replace the player, it's that he does so much in their system. He is the system.

"He is the reason they play the way they do. They have a forward half press because this guy can do everything."

King said there are four key factors surrounding Richmond's upcoming season, the signs which may expose one of the more dominant teams of the past two seasons.

2. Position

"Where someone gets the position wrong in the system. Then there's an easy goal out the back."

Throughout his illustrious career, Rance has consistently been that general down back for the Tigers. His ability to position players up the ground, successfully read a developing play and rarely lose a defensive contest is what makes him one of the greatest full-backs of the modern-era.

Richmond's last man in defence will now have to be one of David Astbury or Nick Vlastuin, and it is up to them to operate Rance's system.