Reimis Smith has connected with Melbourne great Will Chambers as the Storm centre shapes up for his NRL return after 10 months out with injury.
The 25-year-old ruptured his pec in round nine in early May and then frustratingly re-injured it in the gym eight weeks into a 10-week recovery.
He required another round of surgery, ending his 2022 season.
Forming a lethal right edge with Jahrome Hughes and Xavier Coates, the injury was a hammer blow to the Storm's premiership hopes.
In his third season with Melbourne, ex-Bulldog Smith will make his comeback in the Storm's Pre-season Challenge match against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday in Geelong.
Chambers, who played 218 games at centre for Melbourne and was part of two titles, was at Storm training this week and followed up by sending Smith a text message to wish him well.
"Will did a bit of work with the outside backs and he came in and shared his story about Storm and how he got here and all the things he went through, all that kind of stuff," Smith told AAP
"He actually texted me; sent me a good luck message for the weekend and told me to be confident in myself and to come from someone like that it's pretty special.
"I used to watch him growing up ... it's pretty cool that he came in to help us out where he could and give us a few little chats here and there."
Smith said he hoped to continue to build on their relationship, believing it could only be a positive for his game to learn from Chambers, who played 13 Origin matches and seven for Australia and also spent time in rugby union.
Chambers, 34, retired from the NRL in 2021.
"I'd be silly not to with all the experience he has, the things he's been through, the comps and Origins he's won.
"He's got plenty of experience to share with me and help me get better.
"He wants me to be better if that can help the Storm because it means a lot to him and means a lot to me."
While he expects some nerves, Smith felt ready to take on the Roosters, who now have former Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith.
He said the pre-season had been brutal with coach Craig Bellamy flogging the players after their early finals exit.
"Craig sort of harped on that and let us know it was going be a tough pre-season, but we're over the hump now which is good and we're looking forward to footy and to putting our training into action," Smith said.
