Wild weather awaits Melbourne Storm against Brisbane Broncos Cameron Smith and his Melbourne Storm teammates won't have it easy against Brisbane, with wild weather forecast. MELBOURNE Storm's hopes of a top-two finish will be tested tonight as the home team braces for wild weather and a proud Brisbane outfit in danger of missing the finals. Storm faces a tough month, including three away games (one without its State of Origin players), and a loss tonight would be a setback to the team's pursuit of a home qualifying final. The Broncos are languishing in 12th spot, two wins out of the eight. Rain, hail and freezing temperatures are expected to make the task for both teams that much tougher. "It's a massive game, for both clubs," Storm football manager Frank Ponissi said. The win is vital for us, critical for this time of the year. The game has huge significance. Storm skipper Cameron Smith will return after having stitches to four cuts under his eye removed. Having lost regular pivot Gareth Widdop to a season-ending hip injury, Storm veteran Brett Finch gets another chance to resurrect his 2009 combination with halfback Cooper Cronk. Their first-up effort in Saturday's loss to Wests Tigers, in horrid conditions, left a lot to be desired and Finch said the team "left our brains in Melbourne." The 31-year-old has had a single training session this week to work on his combination with Cronk for the clash at AAMI Park. Finch said he was no Widdop, but was confident of playing his role. Time will tell, if I don't perform someone else will come in and do the job. But I am confident," Finch said. I am a lot different to (Widdop), I don't move as quick as him, but I'll bring my own strengths to the game. It gets harder as you get older. I am in my 15th season and it's not as easy as it once was, but I still enjoy competing, I am still as keen to compete and enthusiastic as when I first started. Finch said he hadn't made a decision about whether he'd like to fill Widdop's role next season. "I'll know if my body can handle it, if I am up to competing at that level," he said. Widdop did get some good news this week with confirmation he won't need surgery and can begin rehabilitation, increasing the English international's chances of being fit for the World Cup in late October. "It's good news for him," Ponissi said. Ponissi was pleased, too, from a football perspective, with what he regarded as a near-perfect draw for the final six rounds of the season which was released yesterday. The only blemish was a five-day turnaround for the Friday night clash with South Sydney in Round 21, after playing in Canberra. sBut it enjoys seven days breaks after that with two Sunday afternoon then two Saturday night games to finish the season.