Craig Bellamy has urged Melbourne's new centre pairing of Young Tonumaipea and Marion Seve to grab hold of their opportunity against Parramatta with the NRL finals looming.
The duo come into the side to face the Eels at Marvel Stadium on Friday night with Reimis Smith sidelined with an adductor injury, while Justin Olam has been axed.
That came after the Storm turned in a lacklustre performance and fell to a 26-18 loss at Newcastle last round.
Melbourne sit fourth following the defeat while Parramatta, last year's grand finalists, are precariously placed in eighth spot.
"It's their chance to really grab that opportunity and they're not in there filling the space, I've told them that, they're not in there waiting for someone else to come good or come back from injury," Bellamy said.
"If they get in there and make the most of it and do their job properly there's a real good chance they will be in there for the rest of the year."
Melbourne will have a number of their former players at the game, celebrating the club's 25 year anniversary.
Bellamy said he wanted his team to make their Storm brethren proud and show more care and effort than they did against the Knights.
"I hope they take a lot of pride in what they do," said the coach, who has been at the helm for 21 seasons.
"We have to make sure we don't get over-excited about it and just do our job and leave the celebrations for Saturday."
Parramatta are also coming off a defeat to North Queensland, compounded by Shaun Lane's dislocated elbow, with Andrew Davey his second-row replacement.
The Eels felt the loss of suspended duo Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Maika Sivo but Bellamy said he expected a battle at the indoor stadium, where the team have shifted due to the FIFA Women's World Cup.
"They've got a couple of suspensions and injuries too which is probably hurting them a little bit but I can't remember a time that we've played Parramatta when it hasn't been a contest and that's what we're expecting."
Meanwhile, Ryan Papenhuyzen's return from his shattered kneecap is gaining momentum.
Admitting he thought the star fullback could sit out the entire season, Bellamy said he'd been in impressed by his recent progress.
"He's getting close to playing again ... there's no timeline I'm aware of, it's a bit on how he feels with the knee and going out there and being confident with the contact part of the game.
"That's the last thing to be ticked off."
