A win over Penrith will send Melbourne to the top of the NRL ladder but Storm coach Craig Bellamy isn't giving much credence to the current standings.
Melbourne host the defending premiers and current leaders on Friday night at Marvel Stadium, and will have playmaker Cameron Munster on board after he recovered from illness to lead their final training run.
Despite the lofty position on the line, Bellamy felt the ladder wasn't a true reflection of the competition, with just six points separating first from 12th.
Second-placed Brisbane have only had one bye while Cronulla, in fourth, have had three, each worth two points.
"The ladder is a bit warped at the moment in that there's a lot of teams who have had two or three byes and some that have only had one," Bellamy said.
"I don't think it tells exactly how it is."
He said the Panthers, hunting their third successive title, deserved to be top dogs.
"Penrith have been the dominant side the last two or three years and they've been dominant again this year," he said.
"The last couple of weeks we've improved our defence and our consistency so we want to carry on in that note tomorrow night against the best team in the competition.
"It will be a test for us."
Munster hadn't trained with the team this week due to a mystery illness coming off State of Origin, but ran freely on Thursday.
"He seems to be running OK," Bellamy said. "He looks like he's lost a bit of weight so he might be a bit quicker."
While playmaker Munster is good to go, second-rower Eliesa Katoa isn't expected back for another month after his eye injury required surgery.
"It ended up being worse (than first thought) and he had an operation about 10 days after the incident, so he'll be another three or four weeks at best," Bellamy said.
"He's not bedridden but he's not allowed to move too much."
In a welcome sight, fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen - who hasn't played this season after shattering his right knee-cap almost a year ago - went through some running drills on the sidelines.
The game is the first time any of the current crop of players will turn out at the AFL venue, with the last Melbourne match there coming against the Warriors back in 2010.
Bellamy said the oval ground provided some challenges, particularly in attack.
"It's just getting your bearings - more so for the kickers," he said.
"You're a long way away from the crowds, so where the lines are can be a bit hard to know.
"We haven't had much time to practise here today but at least they've got out on the ground."
The Panthers will not arrive in Melbourne until Thursday night and will go in blind at Marvel Stadium.
Star Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary remains sidelined but Bellamy felt his replacement Jack Cogger had impressed in the role.
"Nathan's one of the elite players in the game and to have him out is a blow but Jack Cogger looks right at home.
"He's fitted in there really well."
