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Tui Kamikamica's return to the NRL last weekend comes at a welcome time, with Melbourne losing Nelson Asofa-Solomona to injury.
Melbourne's forward depth is set to be tested even further with towering prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona ruled out of Saturday's game against the North Queensland Cowboys.
Asofa-Solomona left the changing rooms after the Storm's 32-6 loss to Penrith at NRL Magic Round on Saturday in a knee brace.
Scans showed the New Zealand international sustained a medial ligament injury although the Storm are hopeful it won't rule him out much longer than a fortnight.
Melbourne are second after the loss to the Panthers but are unlikely to slip further down the ladder if they fall to the third-placed Cowboys in Townsville.
Amid an injury toll that includes Ryan Papenhuyzen, Reimis Smith and Jahrome Hughes, Craig Bellamy's men were at least given a boost with the return of Tui Kamikamica against the Panthers.
The Fijian prop had been stood down by the NRL and suspended him for nine games after he was charged for assault following an off-season incident in November last year.
Police charges were dropped and Kamikamica expressed his relief at returning for the Storm.
"It feels good to be back playing," he told AAP.
"It's been a long time, it doesn't matter how hard you train, match fitness is a different thing.
"I don't focus on the media and outside noise, I just want to help the team go well."
With fellow forwards Asofa-Solomona, Tepai Moeroa and Christian Welch all sidelined, Kamikamica said he was aware he needed to pick up where he left off last season.
"When I was on the sideline I wanted to come in and do the same job I have been doing the last couple of years," he said.
"Now I've got the first game out of the way, I want to keep on doing that."