Melbourne Storm on high alert for Bulldogs star Ben Barba DON'T bother trying to tell Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy that Bulldogs star Ben Barba is not the player he was last year. The 2012 Dally M winner had some well documented personal issues earlier this year, but the Storm is on high alert ahead of today's clash at ANZ Stadium. "I have such admiration for Benny he's a wonderful player," Bellamy said. I think there has been a bit of comment about probably he hasn't been in his best form, but I don't think that's right. I probably wasn't aware of it until this week when I watched a bit of vision of the Bulldogs over the last month. I think he is playing every bit as good as he was last year. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs star Ben Barba offloads against Melbourne. Bellamy said his players will pay the price today if they make the mistake of underestimating the flashy fullback. "Perhaps some of the other things around him (Barba) are not quite working as well as they were last year," he said. But he's breaking a lot of tackles and every time he gets the footy, you're expecting something to happen. The Storm head into today's clash minus Origin stars Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Ryan Hoffman and skipper Cameron Smith. It has forced a reshuffle with young gun Ben Hampton back for his second NRL game. The Bulldogs are confused by the scheduling of the premiership re-match during the Origin period. His first grade debut, in which he scored a double, came against the Titans a fortnight ago. On that night he played fullback, but that was when the Storm still had five-eighth Gareth Widdop available. Widdop's long-term injury means Hampton is likely to partner veteran Brett Finch in the halves with Justin O'Neill at fullback. Although Bellamy is well known to pull a surprise or two at late notice. "I suppose it was a bit easier last time (we were missing our Origin players) when we had Gareth and Finchy in the halves," Bellamy said. Ben Barba models the Bulldogs' away jersey. We haven't got Gareth now and Benny's best position probably is half or five-eighth. That's why we are probably leaning to playing him in that position. The Storm head into today's match as rank outsider, despite winning 10 of their last 12 matches against the Bulldogs. It is seen as a game the Bulldogs just have to win, but the Storm will not give up the points without a fight. Back-rower Tohu Harris said there was a quiet confidence among the group despite the long list of absentees. "It's not a case of us (who are left) taking on extra responsibility, we just put more of an emphasis on doing our job the best we can," Harris said. It doesn't matter who's playing it's about turning up with the right mindset and performing the Storm way. Hopefully that puts us in with a good chance.