Sandor is open: Earl looks to pounce on vacant centre jersey

Eyeing off a switch to the centres, Sandor Earl hoping a strong showing at the NRL Nines in Perth will catapult him into contention for Craig Bellamy's first-choice side.

Earl was on Monday named alongside Fijian prop Tui Kamikamica as co-captains at the Nines and the 30-year-old speedster is keen to hit the ground running and give himself the best chance of regular first-grade football in 2020.

"I have had a big pre-season and I am ready to take it up a notch," Earl said on Monday.

"I have now got a bit of a fearless mentality and it's something I didn't have last year.

"I feel my old self, but it is time to show that with my actions starting with the Nines.

"It will be some good fun footy and then I want to have a few good trial matches and I want to put myself in the frame to play some good footy."

Earl made just six appearances for the Storm last season, with the majority of those coming during the Origin period when the likes of Josh Addo-Carr and Will Chambers were in camp with their respective representative sides.

Chambers departed during the off-season to play rugby union, while the loss of Curtis Scott to premiership rival Canberra Raiders means there are vacancies in the Storm's back line.

Earl, who has been used primarily on the wing throughout his NRL career, has been spending some time training in the centres during the pre-season to further expand his playing resume.

"Some of my strengths do apply to the centres," Earl noted.

"So, I would like to put myself in a position where Bellsa sees me as an option for both positions.

"For me it’s going to be playing both those positions in reserve grade, play well and give Bellsa no excuse but to look at me for both positions."

While Earl is yet to cement his place in first grade, Kamikamica is quite the opposite after the towering Fijian was one of the Storm's most improved players in 2019.

Kamikamica made 21 appearances in purple, all of them off the bench as cover for the likes of Jesse Bromwich and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

He would love to be in the pack in the run-on side on a regular basis, but added: "Whether that is starting or coming off the bench, I know I will perform to the best of my ability."

The Storm will name the remainder of their Nines squad on Tuesday, with assistant coach Jason Ryles to take charge of what is expected to be a largely youthful team for the pre-season event.

Skipper Cameron Smith, young gun Ryan Papenhuyzen and vice-captains Dale Finucane and Jesse Bromwich are expected to be rested for the trip west and be saved for trials against the Warriors and Cowboys later this month.