Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk is unequivocal.
The Storm have let themselves down in the NRL post-season ever since beating Canterbury to win the 2012 premiership.
They went straight out of the 2013 and 2014 playoffs without firing a shot.
Now - having got lucky when Manly upset Cronulla last Sunday to gift them fourth spot and the resultant double chance - Melbourne get a crack at the red-hot Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Friday night, with the winners advancing straight to the preliminary final.
"It's about time Melbourne Storm played to its potential come September," Queensland and Australian star Cronk said on Tuesday.
"This time around we've got a little bit of form, a little bit of momentum and are playing to a relatively high standard.
"So let's go out and have a game against the best team in the competition and see where we stand.
"... a little bit of luck has fallen our way and we need to grab it with both hands and ride this competition as far as we can take it."
Melbourne looked headed for an elimination final - at best - after late-season losses to struggling Wests Tigers and Newcastle.
But they have bounced back in the past fortnight with impressive wins over the other two teams to finish in the top four - North Queensland and Brisbane - raising hopes they can snap the Roosters' 12-match winning streak.
We'll do the homework, we'll do all the preparation we need to, we'll apply ourselves the best we can and hopefully we put our best foot forward on Friday night and take advantage of the opportunity that's in front of us," said Cronk.
"(The Roosters) like playing an aggressive type of football - high completion rate, get the ball down the other end and then they've obviously got some pretty influential individuals in their team that can do some pretty special things.
"We've got to match them in every area and then step it up and go past them if we can."
MELBOURNE STORM's RECORD IN THE NRL PLAYOFFS SINCE 2012
2013 qualifying final: Lost 20-10 to South Sydney at ANZ Stadium
2013 semi-final: Lost 18-16 to Newcastle at AAMI Park
2014 elimination final: Lost 28-4 to Canterbury at AAMI Park
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