Impressive youngster Scott Drinkwater will get first shot at the No.1 jersey vacated by Billy Slater after being named at fullback for Storm's trial game against the Warriors on Friday night.
Slater's was the first name on Craig Bellamy's teamsheet for many years in Melbourne, but his retirement at the end of 2018 has left a huge hole.
Drinkwater will get the first chance to make the position his, with the 21-year-old beating Jahrome Hughes and Ryan Papenhuyzen in the race for the coveted jersey for the match to be played in Geelong.
It caps off a huge seven months for Drinkwater, who made his Storm debut against the Panthers in round 25 last year before signing a contract extension until the end of the 2020 season.
"I am excited as it has been a long tough pre-season," Drinkwater said on Tuesday.
"This Friday night is going to be a big occasion for me because I came into this pre-season focused on the No.1 jersey and nothing else."
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While Slater's playing days at the Storm are over, he remains a regular part of the furniture at the club and is often a keen onlooker at training.
Drinkwater admitted he regularly seeks the counsel of Slater as he attempts to make the position his own.
"Billy and I have a good relationship ... he has said that if I need any help that he's only a phone call away," Drinkwater said.
"It is good to have the best in the game in the same city.
"He comes into training, gives me tips, he will get me before a meeting and show me clips from training on where I can improve and stuff like that.
"And if I see something at training that I am unaware of, I can cut it up on a computer and send it to him. He can look at it and write a message back."
While Drinkwater will get first chance to impress in the No.1, he knows there are no guarantees he will be there for the round one clash with the Broncos on March 14.
"I have made it a goal of mine to give it the best shot I can to get that No.1 jersey for round one," Drinkwater said.
"But it all comes down to trials I believe. As good as training can be, you have got to play good footy as well."
Seven players from the Storm's losing grand final side have been named to take on the Warriors at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong.
Brandon Smith and Hughes will make their second appearance of 2019 after they took part in the Harvey Norman All Stars clash last Friday night.
One absentee this week is veteran centre Will Chambers, who is battling an ankle injury he picked up while representing the Indigenous All Stars against Smith and Hughes' Maori side. Chambers is expected to be fit for the opening week of the Telstra Premiership.
Storm squad to face Warriors
1 Scott Drinkwater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Marion Seve, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Sandor Earl, 6 Billy Walters, 7 Brodie Croft, 8 Christian Welch, 9 Brandon Smith, 10 Tui Kamikamica, 11 Joe Stimson, 12 Tom Eisenhuth, 13 Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Interchange: 14 Jahrome Hughes, 15 Ryan Papenhuyzen, 16 Justin Olam, 17 Cheyse Blair, 18 Curtis Dansey-Smaller, 19 Tom Hughes, 20 Cooper Johns, 21 Harry Grant, 22 Nico Hynes, 23 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 24 Patrick Kaufusi, 25 Kelma Tuilagi, 27 Matt Stimson, 28 Trent Toelau, 29 Darryn Schonig, 30 Daniel Dole
