Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has admitted the team will rest players in the final two rounds with the minor premiership already locked up.
The Storm clinched top spot on the ladder with a 48-6 demolition of the Dolphins at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
With two games remaining and Thursday night games against the Cowboys and Broncos to come, Bellamy revealed some players would likely be given a break in the lead-up to finals.
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Candidates for resting include skipper Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes.
"We'll be doing some resting this week," Bellamy said.
"We might even do a little bit in the last game (against the Broncos), but certainly this week.
"We've got a five-day turnaround into our longest trip of the season and the team we're playing has had the bye so we'll be resting a few players.
"Sometimes I don't think that's a real good look for the competition, but we've got to do what we think is right for us and we'll do that."
Impact on NRL finals race
Both of Melbourne's remaining regular season games are against teams either locked into finals or in contention for the top eight.
The Storm first play the sixth-placed Cowboys away on Thursday after a five-day break, with North Queensland having a finals spot secured but will be hoping to finish as high as fifth.
Significantly, Melbourne's last game of the season is away at the Broncos, who are currently ninth and will be bidding to displace the Dragons in the eight.
There are three further teams on the same points as the Broncos - the Dolphins, Knights and Raiders.
