There is more at stake than a spot in the grand final for the NRL's two fiercest modern-day rivals with bragging rights for team of the decade also up for grabs.

Brisbane currently lead the race for the best team of the 2000s as the only team with two premierships (2000 and 2006), but the Storm can lay claim at the title if they beat the Broncos at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Victory for the Storm would deliver Melbourne a fourth straight grand final appearance, becoming the first club in over two decades to achieve the feat of consistency after Parramatta's legendary outfit won three premierships from four attempts between 1981-84.

Added to the clubs' successes is the fact they have bred some of the game's best players including Darren Lockyer, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Israel Folau, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Greg Inglis.

While that esteemed group of stars combined to deliver Queensland a record fourth straight State of Origin series win earlier this year, there'll be no mates when they clash on Saturday.

Rookie Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak knows very little separates the two teams and while the Broncos haven't won in Melbourne since 2003 and his side is without injured halfback Peter Wallace, he believes the result will come down to mental strength.

"We just have to be mentally tougher," Henjak said.

"There is no next week if we get beat. We can't use any excuses like slippery ground or it's cold or whatever it might be, it's all about mental toughness now.

"Getting a good start is important in any game but even more so in these big ones.

"We certainly don't want to be blown off the park early and having to be chasing points. You don't want to be under that sort of pressure."

This is the sixth successive season Melbourne and Brisbane have met in an NRL final, the Broncos' only victory coming in the most important clash at the 2006 grand final.

The Storm have eliminated Brisbane with their two most recent finals wins in 2007 and 2008 and Henjak is hopeful lightning doesn't strike a third time.

Brisbane are a much tougher side than the team beaten 48-4 by the Storm at Olympic Park in round 13, riding into town on the back of a seven-game winning streak and a confidence-boosting mauling of minor premiers St George Illawarra.

Henjak's young pack produced the most dominant forward display of the season to crush the Dragons and it's a performance that must be repeated if they're going to challenge the title favourites.

"Our big challenge is to be able to replicate that what we did last week," Henjak said.

"You never want to take that for granted thinking you're just going to turn up and do that.

"It takes a lot of hard work and really good attitude to do that and the players have to be prepared to do that for 80 minutes.

"Whether we got St George (Illawarra) a bit off-guard last week I'm not sure. One thing I do know is we won't get the Melbourne Storm off guard. They will be ready for us."

The Storm will play six props to combat the Broncos monster pack, with Wairangi Koopu to drop off the five-man bench.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said the Storm would welcome a physical contest. He knows they're ready to rumble after a spirited early-morning session at the enclosed ground on Friday morning.

"It worked for them last week so we expect (Brisbane) to have the same sort of mindset," said Bellamy.

"(Melbourne players) are very alert and there's a real spring in their step so I think that's a pretty good sign."

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