Melbourne fullback Billy Slater admits the workload of NRL players needs to be looked at as he heads into Friday night's match against North Queensland following something he rarely gets - rest.

Slater was sent for a few days off on club orders - coach Craig Bellamy concerned about the punishing State of Origin schedule on a player who has played virtually every minute of every match he has been eligible for in 2009.

Slater will play against the Cowboys at Olympic Park in a match with major implications in shaping the finals, but only returned to training on Thursday.

The Queensland star admitted there is "an issue" with rep players being asked to do too much in any calendar year, especially during the State of Origin period.

"I'm happy to play Origin and I'm happy to play for Australia but there's certainly an issue there that we can get better at," Slater said.

"We are playing a lot of footy but that's the way it's structured at the moment.

"There's the right people in place to sit down and look at those things.

"It is hard to be up from starting trials in February and we may be still going in December - it's a long year."

The sixth-placed Cowboys have hit a rich vein of form with the ball in hand, and are the No.1 attacking side in the NRL this season.

But the Storm's defence has been the cornerstone of their success under Bellamy.

Slater admits how their defence deals with Cowboys half Johnathan Thurston will determine whether Melbourne can win.

"He'll have the ball in his hands more than anyone else in that team and wherever he is, the ball's probably going to go there," Slater said.

"We're going to have to shut him down and if we can do that, it will go a long way towards us being successful."

Slater and Storm teammate Dallas Johnson reach a personal milestone on Friday night - playing their 150th NRL match.

In a twist of fate, both are north Queensland products playing against their local side and both made their debut in round one, 2003 for Melbourne.

Second rower Ryan Hoffman is scheduled to return for the Storm after hamstring problems, while prop Adam Blair is back from suspension.

They will cover the loss of Sika Manu, who broke his leg last weekend.

The Cowboys have made one late team change, drafting in young winger Donald Malone to replace Michael Bani on Thursday.

Bani has withdrawn because of a back injury sustained at training this week.

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