Melbourne will welcome the Sydney Roosters to AAMI Park knowing they have the wood over their opponents after winning 10 of the past 11 meetings.
The Storm wrapped up the minor premiership two weeks before the end of the regular season and then put Cronulla to the sword to ease into the preliminary finals.
The Roosters have had a far bumpier ride to the last four after losing two of their most important players to injury on the eve of the finals and then slipping to a heavy defeat to Penrith in their qualifying final.
But after being forced to go the long way around to try and reach the decider, the Chooks are battle-hardened as they now attempt to flip the script on Craig Bellamy’s side.
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Nelson Asofa-Solomona warned to not get caught up in Jared Waerea-Hargreaves battle
The Roosters’ season was ended by the Storm last year, but Trent Robinson was eager to stress after their semi-final rout of Manly that revenge wouldn’t be on their minds.
Yet the match will be the last time Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will lock horns, with the two Kiwi firebrands sure to be right in the thick of the action.
The forwards have had a feisty running battle with each other down the years with numerous flashpoints resulting in a strained history out on the pitch.
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However, Harry Grant stressed the need for his teammate to not be too consumed by the personal battle with JWH, who will depart to the Super League at the end of the season.
"Nelson is so important to our team and we want Nelson on the field for as long as possible," Grant said ahead of the heavyweight clash.
"We don’t want him in the sin-bin or giving away penalties.
"He’s been so mature and experienced with the way he’s handled the last couple of months, so I don’t think Nelson will be keen or needs to get involved."
