Warriors coach Ivan Cleary is relishing the chance to take on Melbourne with a full-strength side for the first time this season when the Storm visit Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday.

The in-form Warriors will face the fallen NRL premiers on the back of a courageous 12-6 win against second-placed Penrith at CUA stadium last Sunday.

Cleary will welcome back fullback Lance Hohaia, winger Kevin Locke, key centre Brent Tate and halfback Brett Seymour as his side look for their fifth successive win.

And although the Storm have lost four of their last five matches, and are playing for no points as part of their punishment for breaching the salary cap, Cleary is still expecting a tough test.

"I always like playing Melbourne," Cleary said on Wednesday.

"A good look at their roster and you see some pretty big names there and it's always a great test for your team and it's no different this week really.

"All I know is you've got to expect them to be at their best."

Cleary admits the returning quartet may be a bit rusty upon their return, but confident they will cope.

"Some fresh legs at this time of year, especially after what we've just gone through (at Penrith), might just be able to balance that rust up a little bit," Cleary said.

Huffing and puffing after training, Tate, who has missed the last four matches with a broken jaw, admitted the returning players wouldn't be at their full level of fitness, but had the skills to compensate.

"You always come back a little bit under-done but you've just got to trust yourself and trust your ability and just get through the first couple of weeks and hopefully some good form's not too far away," said Tate, who will join North Queensland next season.

"Us players that are coming in to the group just need to go about our job quietly," he said.

Former Brisbane and Cronulla halfback Seymour has recovered from a fractured leg and will make only his fifth appearance for the club and join ex-Storm playmaker James Maloney in the halves.

Meanwhile, Cleary said he'd lodged an "official complaint" for the first time following last week's referring that led to a lopsided 11-3 penalty count, forcing the Warriors to make 374 tackles - 70 more than the Panthers.

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