Melbourne star Billy Slater has been cleared of serious injury after being poked in the eye in Saturday night's NRL game against North Queensland.

Slater lasted just 22 minutes at Dairy Farmers Stadium after being accidentally hit in the eye by Cowboys halfback Johnathan Thurston.

He spent the second half icing the right side of his face on the bench as the Storm won 12-10, and was reportedly unable to open his right eye for up to half an hour after the game.

The injury, though, is not expected to see Slater miss any football with the fullback suffering only a bruised nerve.

The Melbourne flyer is expected to be named at fullback in the Australian team to play New Zealand in next month's Centenary Test.

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