Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says his players will target returning Panthers star Jarome Luai after his return from a dislocated shoulder.
The Panthers confirmed on Thursday that Luai would start in the No.6 jersey in Friday's preliminary final despite suggestions he'd be moved to the bench in place of Jack Cogger.
Phil Gould warned the Panthers that the Storm would target Luai, particularly defensively after what he deemed to be be a "miracle" return from injury, and Bellamy confirmed the team's plan.
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"We'd like to see him make a few tackles, so we'll see how that goes," he told reporters on Thursday.
The Panthers aren't the only team to have rushed a star back from injury this week, with the Storm also welcoming back Jahrome Hughes.
Bellamy said he was confident his No.7 would be able to make an impact, trusting that Luai is also likely to do the same for Penrith.
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"We're not going to take a big risk, and I imagine Penrith wouldn't take a big risk either," he said.
"You don't want those guys starting the game and getting hurt in the first five or 10 minutes, that puts a lot of pressure on the rest of the team, especially in the positions that they play.
"We're not going to play Jahrome if we don't think he's very, very close to top fitness, and I imagine Penrith will do the same (with Luai)."
Hughes sat out the Storm's final training session before the trip to Sydney, but is expected to start.
"We'll just have to see how he pulls up, but he got through most of it (on Thursday), so we're really confident he'll be OK," Bellamy said.
"He didn't do all of it … but we didn't plan for him to do all of it either. Whatever we planned for him to do, he's done."
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