Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy says he's been trying to prepare his troops for the likelihood of an arm-wrestle with St George Illawarra after blow-outs in their last two NRL matches.
The Storm host the Dragons on Sunday, with the match coming after putting a combined 120 points on their last two opponents.
Bellamy wasn't concerned about getting his players' minds on the job at AAMI Park, but rather the physical ramifications after so little time with the ball in play in their recent games.
The Dragons, meanwhile, have won their last three but the biggest margin has been six points so they've had to dig in for the full 80 minutes.
"We haven't had a game where it's been a lot ball in play for the last two weeks so you sort of worry a little bit about how that affects you," Bellamy said on Saturday.
"We've tried to make up for that a little bit with our training but it's hard to replicate .
"There are some things you can do, but it's not as good as having being in the heat of the battle for the 80 minutes.
"There's a couple things that we've tinkered with the last couple of weeks and hopefully, when we get into that real tight game ... that's going to help us.
"They're a tough physical side who always fight to the end and that's what's going to happen tomorrow."
Bellamy said they had done plenty of preparation focusing on their 2023 recruit, prop Tariq Sims, while he thought halfback Ben Hunt was in career best form.
"Ben Hunt is probably playing as well as he's ever played," he said.
"He's been around a long time and played at a couple of clubs, played a couple positions too but the footy he's playing at the moment ... it looks like he's leading the way and the rest will jump on the back of that."
Melbourne, who have only dropped one game in eight, are looking to mark Kenny Bromwich's 200th game with a win.
The second rower becomes just the seventh Storm player to reach the milestone and was presented with his game jersey by his skipper brother Jesse, who is part of the elite group.
Giant prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona will play his 150th.
Bellamy said Kenny Bromwich deserved the same accolades as the six before him.
"Some people get things given to them on a plate but with Kenny there's been times when it looked like he might not have made it, but since he moved to the edge he's made it his own.
"He's consistently good and that's what his teammates want - they want to know you're going to turn up and Kenny consistently turns up.
"I know all the other guys on that left edge love playing with him."
