Melbourne Storm Coach Craig Bellamy has named a slightly shuffled spine for Sunday's trip to Leichhardt Oval to take on Wests Tigers as the visitors look to continue their unbeaten start to the year.
Sitting top of the table heading in to Round 4, Bellamy's men have been hit by two key injuries from their gutsy Round 3 win over the Broncos — verstaile playmaker Cameron Munster (jaw) and powerful winger Suliasi Vunivalu (shoulder) both ruled out of Sunday's contest.
Those spots are filled by more-than-ready replacements, with young half Ryley Jacks slotting back into the starting team alongside Cooper Cronk in the halves while Young Tonumaipea returns to the wing.
Making a successful return from injury off the bench last week, star fullback Billy Slater will start his first game of season 2017 in his customary number one jersey.
Uncapped winger Justin Olam and halfback Brodie Croft have been named in the reserves for Sunday's game following strong recent performances in the Intrust Super Cup competition.
For Wests Tigers, Interim Coach Andrew Webster has listed three changes to the squad following last week's defeat to the Raiders, with Matt Ballin named to return on the bench.
After suffering a season-ending knee injury midway through 2016, Ballin had played in the Club's Intrust Super Premiership competition over the past two weeks to increase his match fitness ahead of his pending NRL return.
New recruit Jamal Idris has been named in the reserves as he looks to return from a foot injury that sidelined him last weekend, while Elijah Taylor has also been included in his favoured lock forward role, after sitting out last week's defeat to the Raiders due to an ongoing family matter.
Sunday's match will be Wests Tigers first game at Leichhardt Oval for season 2017, with last year's contest between the two sides at the venue heading into Golden Point.
Don’t miss our first game of the year at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, March 26!
MELBOURNE STORM
1. Billy Slater
2. Young Tonumaipea
3. William Chambers
4. Cheyse Blair
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Ryley Jacks
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith (capt.)
10. Jordan McLean
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenny Bromwich
13. Dale Finucane
Interchange:
14. Christian Welch
15. Tim Glasby
16. Nelson Asofa Solomona
17. Vincent Leuluai
18. Mark Nicholls
19. Joe Stimson
20. Justin Olam
21. Brodie Croft
Coach: Craig Bellamy
WESTS TIGERS
1. James Tedesco
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Kevin Naiqama
4. Michael Chee Kam
5. Moses Suli
6. Mitchell Moses
7. Luke Brooks
8. Aaron Woods (capt.)
9. Matt McIlwrick
10. Ava Seumanufagai
11. Sauaso Sue
12. Chris Lawrence
13. Elijah Taylor
Interchange:
14. Tim Grant
15. Josh Aloiai
16. Joel Edwards
17. Matt Ballin
18. Justin Hunt
19. Kyle Lovett
20. Jamal Idris
21. Junior Tatola
Coach: Andrew Webster
