Injury-struck Wests Tigers will give enterprising centre Chris Lawrence until game day to prove he is fit to take on the Melbourne Storm in their NRL clash at Olympic Park on Sunday.

The Tigers have completed their final training session in chilly Melbourne conditions however coach Tim Sheens wanted to see how Lawrence's injured ankle recovered before making a final decision.

The centre was named in their win over Parramatta last Monday night but didn't play and hasn't been included in the line-up for this match.

"We'll have to see how he pulls up," said Wests Tigers football manager Alan Mair.

"Before the Eels he trained but after the last session pulled up sore so we're going through the same scenario again.

"He's improved a bit since last week so we're hopeful."

Mair said Sheens was "playing his cards close to his chest" in terms of a replacement for Lawrence should he be ruled out.

The Tigers were rocked by the news mid-week that second-rower Chris Heighington would be out for up to eight weeks with an adductor muscle injury in his right leg, suffered in the Eels win.

Named against the Storm until scans revealed the extent of the injury, Danny Galea will start in his place.

The Storm finished their preparations for the round 15 clash without any glitches, with assistant coach Michael Maguire, who has stepped in while senior coach Craig Bellamy oversees the NSW Origin side, saying they recovered well from their hard-fought win over South Sydney in Perth.

Melbourne are missing four star players due to Origin commitments with centre Dane Nielsen and utility back James Maloney among the new faces.

Last year the 2007 premiers lost all three games played during the Origin period while they were without up to 10 representative players, but Macguire said they were a more experienced side this season.

"The difference this year is that all of the guys that we're bringing in have experience in first grade so it's not like we're bringing in under-20s into the unknown.

"Guys like Neilsen and Maloney have played a bit of first grade so they know what goes on and the routine of the week so it's nothing different for them, it's just about getting out and performing."

The Tigers lost five straight before their win over Parramatta however Macguire said they were a better side than that record indicated.

"They've been in every game right until the death and have had a few losses by only two points so they're a team that plays for 80 minutes.

"They're a team that are performing but they're not getting across the line at times but they're a strong team."

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