The cavalry has arrived for Melbourne after letting the NRL minor premiership slip, with Billy Slater set to lead a star Storm trio's return for Friday night's qualifying final against South Sydney.
The Melbourne backline was undermanned before the blockbuster against the Rabbitohs, but Slater returns from personal leave to join pivot Cameron Munster and wing Suliasi Vunivalu in the 17 after they overcame knee and hamstring injuries.
Queensland five-eighth Munster will partner Jahrome Hughes, who moves from fullback to halfback for the showdown at AAMI Park.
Bench back-rower Brandon Smith also returns from a knee injury for Melbourne, pushing stalwart Ryan Hoffman to 18th man.
It is the injection the Storm needed after blowing their chance to seal a third straight minor premiership with their last round 22-16 loss to Penrith.
They take on an unchanged Rabbitohs line-up despite enforcer Sam Burgess suffering a hamstring injury in their last round thumping of Wests Tigers.
At Cronulla, centre Ricky Leutele (knee) is back ensuring Kurt Capewell moves to the bench for Saturday night's qualifying final against minor premiers the Sydney Roosters.
The Roosters named an unchanged 17 but rejigged their starting side, injecting Victor Radley into lock while Isaac Liu starts in the second row and Mitch Aubussen joins the bench.
At Brisbane, hooker Andrew McCullough (concussion) and back-rower Alex Glenn (calf) return while hulking forward Tevita Pangai has also been named despite a hamstring concern for Sunday's knockout clash with St George Illawarra.
McCullough's return pushes Josh McGuire back to lock and Joe Ofahengaue to the bench.
The misfiring Dragons, who limped into the finals with six losses in their last nine games, will hope to reset when playmaker Gareth Widdop returns from a shoulder injury.
Lock Jack De Belin was named despite battling an injured ankle.
In Auckland, pivot Blake Green (calf) is back in a timely shot in the arm for the Warriors - and halves partner Shaun Johnson - ahead of Saturday's knockout clash with the Panthers.
Penrith's Corey Harawira-Naera returns from concussion to replace Jack Hetherington on the bench.
