Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson has expressed his desire to play in his side's opening pre-season match on Thursday.

The Browns take on the St Louis Rams in their first warm-up match ahead of the new season which starts next month, but Richardson faces a race to be fit in time having re-injured his shin last week.

The 23-year-old was forced to sit out of the team's last two training sessions, but insists that he is fit and ready to play against the Rams.

"I'll be able to play," Richardson told reporters. "Whether I am or not, it's out of my control. But I want to play.

"I haven't heard anything that I wasn't [playing]. For all I know, I'm playing Thursday and can't wait to go.

"Pre-season is very important as far as getting the speed down and the conditioning for games. You can practice all you want but you can never get game conditions down until you play in a game."

Richardson suffered an injury-hit rookie season with the Browns last year, having been selected third overall in the 2012 draft.