Melbourne are confident they will have Cameron Smith available for their trip to the Gold Coast but the Storm will still be without four stars for the NRL clash.
The first-placed Storm are sweating on Smith's fitness after the superstar rake injured his back in Friday's win over Parramatta, but he trained lightly on Monday and is understood to be moving freely.
However, the news isn't as good for a number of other Storm players, with Kiwi forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona ruled out until at least the second week of the finals due to an ankle injury.
Star winger Suliasi Vunivalu and back-up hooker Brandon Smith will also join him on the sideline for at least the final two rounds of the regular season with hamstring and knee injuries, respectively.
It comes after Queensland and Kangaroos centre Will Chambers on Monday took an early guilty plea on a dangerous contact charge and was suspended for three games.
The Storm face the Titans on Saturday before hosting Penrith in the final round, with the distinct possibility this year's minor premiership could be decided on for-and-against.
The injuries - particularly those of Brandon Smith - make the fitness of Cameron Smith even more important than usual.
Melbourne young back-up hookers Harry Grant and Billy Walters are also hurt, meaning Kenny Bromwich could be forced to fill in at dummy-half if Smith's condition deteriorates.
In good news for the Storm, Jahrome Hughes is recovering well from a knee injury and is a good chance of returning against the Titans.
He could either slot back into the halves alongside Cameron Munster or be used to fill spots out wide, where Justin Olam and Cheyse Blair are likely call-ups.
The unavailabilities also push Sandor Earl a step closer to playing his first NRL game since serving an ASADA drug ban but it's likely he's still one spot away.
