End of State of Origin signals time to focus for Melbourne Storm Ryan Hoffman says Melbourne Storm is now focused on securing a top four position. MELBOURNE Storm backrower Ryan Hoffman has declared the time for excuses is over as his team heads into today's crucial clash against the Warriors in Auckland. The Origin period is now finally behind Storm for another year with Hoffman, skipper Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk all back for the meeting at Mt Smart Stadium. Losing the quartet caught up with the depleted Storm in its last outing when it was beaten 39-0 by Canterbury - the fifth heaviest defeat in its history. But as Hoffman pointed out, Storm is still sitting third as it enters the final seven games of the season. ``It's just a time of the year we have to deal with and I suppose we know it is coming in the lead up to Origin, so I don't know if that contributes and players have that in the back of their mind," Hoffman said. ``But now there are no excuses. We now have seven weeks and it is up to us to cement a spot in the top four and go from there. ``But if we start thinking of finals too early we lose track of these next seven games and we are coming up against some quality opposition. ``I think it's a good time to come up against these teams because it gives us no choice, we have to shape up. Storm coach Craig Bellamy has said managing the Origin disruption was getting harder every year as the series took more out of the players. Hoffman is the proof, admitting he was spent after the Origin decider. But the hard-working NSW Blues forward said he had returned to the club in good nick. ``Honestly I was extremely tired at the end of the Origin series," he said. ``After the last game with all the emotion that goes into it, mentally I was a bit tired and drained. ``But I got a good seven days off and I had a good couple of days off by the beach. ``That really refreshed the batteries and the body is feeling great, so I am very excited for the back end of the season. Storm has identified damaging Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson as the man to stop today with coach Craig Bellamy indicating he will be a target. Melbourne will head in as favourite, but Hoffman urged his teammates not to underestimate the power and skill of the Warriors. ``The last five weeks they have been one of the form teams of the competition," he said. ``They're playing some really good football and it's all starting to click for them. ``They've got those hard workers through the middle, but also they have that bit of flair that they have been renowned for. ``They're dangerous and always seem to shape up against us.