Storm hopeful Hughes, Coates are fit to face Penrith

The Storm hope Jahrome Hughes will be fit for their preliminary final against Penrith. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Melbourne duo Jahrome Hughes and Xavier Coates will be racing the clock to be available for the Storm's preliminary final against Penrith.

Hughes (calf) and Coates (ankle) both sat out Friday night's 18-13 semi-final thriller against the Sydney Roosters.

"They're both a chance," Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.

"I think Jahrome has a better chance than Xavier at the moment. 

"Until they start running we won't know. 

"Xavier is still in a boot. That said, I've seen guys in boots for seven days and then they're playing two days later."

Tui Kamikamica looked wobbly in the dying stages and Bellamy said the prop underwent a HIA post-game.

The Storm, who finished the regular season third, were staring down the barrel of a straight-sets exit when they trailed the Roosters 13-12 with two minutes remaining.

But Storm star Cameron Munster put a perfect kick to Will Warbrick in the opposite corner as the athletic winger flew high and scored the try with 90 seconds left to send the AAMI Park crowd of 19,534 into delirium.

The Storm will now renew their rivalry with Penrith, who are gunning for a third-straight premiership, in the first preliminary final at Accor Stadium next Friday night.

After finishing as minor premiers in 2021, Melbourne crashed out with a heartbreaking preliminary final defeat to the Panthers.

Filling in for Hughes, back-up halfback Tyran Wishart was not overawed by the occasion as he opened the scoring with the first try.

"I thought he (Wishart) done a really good job," Bellamy said.

"To come into that spot, in such a big game, it's not easy to do. 

"He obviously had a bit of practice up there when we played Brisbane in the last round.

"Hughesy he didn't train all week so he (Wishart) basically trained there all week so I think that was a bit of a bonus for him and for us. 

"I just thought in the circumstances that he came into the team in a big game against an opposition that had won the last eight games, his performance was outstanding."

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