STORM?S HAT TRICK HERO OUT AS ROSS
RETURNS

An ongoing groin injury will see the Storm's leading try scorer Aaron Moule sidelined for this week's clash against the Tigers but Melbourne will regain the services of dynamic fullback Robbie Ross.

Ross will return from a two-week lay off due to a strained hamstring and Moule will be rested as medical staff try to nurse him through the rest of the season.

“He (Moule) has got a groin injury that is progressively getting worse, we are trying to do a maintenance and management job on that to get him through the year,” explained Storm coach Mark Murray.

The 25-year-old centre has been in scintillating form of late scoring eight tries in the past six weeks including a hat trick against the Panthers last week.

“He scored three tries the other day and didn't look like he was carrying an injury but he is and he's been carrying it for some time. This week is just an opportunity to take the heat off him and give him a week's breather and freshen him up for the end of the season,” Murray said.

“This week - and it's nothing to do with the opposition - it's just probably the best time if we going to give him a week off, it's better now than in coming weeks where the games are going to get a little closer to the sudden death situation.”

Murray conceded the dilemma of deciding who should be left out of the side was made considerably easier by the injury to Moule. “With Robbie Ross coming back in this week it gives us the luxury of being able to take someone out and Aaron with his injury is probably the smart way to go,” Murray said.

“We loose Aaron Moule but bring Robbie Ross in so hopefully the team's still got a good balance about it and I think Steve Bell's playing his best football for the year and Junior Langi has been good all year.

“Fifita (Moala) and Marcus (Bai) have also been playing well so there's some good signs there that the team is peaking at the right time.”

Prop Peter Robinson will start from the bench against Wests as Shane Walker moves in to the starting line up to take on his former team-mates.

THE MELBOUNRE STORM TEAM TO PLAY WESTS TIGERS, THIS SATURDAY AT LEICHARDT OVAL, 3PM

1. Robbie Ross 2. Fifita Moala 3. Junior Langi 4. Steven Bell 5. Marcus Bai 6. Scott Hill 7. Matt Orford 8. Shane Walker 9. Richard Swain 10. Rodney Howe (c) 11. Danny Williams 12. Stephen Kearney 13. Willie Leyshon

14. Ian Sibbit 15. Matt Rua 16. Peter Robinson 17. Kirk Reynoldson

IN - Robbie Ross OUT - Aaron Moule