Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk won't face the Cronulla Sharks at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Thursday night, after being omitted from the Storm's 21-man squad.
Cronk featured in Melbourne's big win over Newcastle last Friday night, less than 48 hours after playing for Queensland in the opening match of the Holden State of Origin series.
Given the Round 14 Telstra Premiership clash would be Cronk's third game in eight days, the decision was made to rest the premiership-winning halfback, with captain Cameron Smith returning to the side after missing the Knights clash. Centre Will Chambers is set to play despite also featuring for the Maroons and Storm in Round 13.
Tohu Harris has been named to start in the halves, with Ryley Jacks a chance to re-join the side, still included in the squad of 19 to travel to Sydney. Kenny Bromwich will start in the back-row, Young Tonumaipea joins the bench while Jeremy Hawkins is the other player to drop out of the squad named on Tuesday.
The Sharks have cut hooker James Segeyaro and playmaker Fa'amanu Brown from their 21-man squad for the grand final rematch.
Updated Sharks squad
1 Valentine Holmes
2 Sosaia Feki
3 Jack Bird
4 Ricky Leutele
5 Gerard Beale
6 James Maloney
7 Chad Townsend
8 Andrew Fifita
9 Jayden Brailey
10 Matt Prior
11 Luke Lewis
12 Wade Graham
13 Paul Gallen (c)
Interchange
14 Jayson Bukuya
15 Chris Heighington
16 Sam Tagataese
17 Joseph Paulo
Reserves
18 Jeremy Latimore
19 Kurt Capewell
Coach: Shane Flanagan
Updated Storm squad
1 Billy Slater
2 Suliasi Vunivalu
3 Will Chambers
4 Cheyse Blair
5 Josh Addo-Carr
6 Cameron Munster
12 Tohu Harris
8 Jesse Bromwich
9 Cameron Smith (c)
10 Jordan McLean
11 Felise Kaufusi
16 Kenny Bromwich
13 Dale Finucane
Interchange
14 Slade Griffin
15 Tim Glasby
17 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
18 Young Tonumaipea
Reserves
19 Dean Britt
21 Ryley Jacks
Coach: Craig Bellamy
