Melbourne have been given a boost ahead of their NRL season-opener against Manly on Saturday night with Billy Slater named to play after overcoming a shoulder complaint.

Test fullback Slater had been in doubt for the opening few rounds of the competition after undergoing off-season shoulder surgery, but he was named on Tuesday to take his place in the No.1 jumper for the AAMI Park clash.

Slater will go head-to-head with Sea Eagles custodian Brett Stewart - the pair renewing a rivalry which has been put on hold in recent years due to Stewart's knee troubles.

The Storm's 18-man squad contains just 10 players who played in the final round encounter of their forgettable 2010 campaign.

A host of players have moved on as a result of the club's salary cap woes.

Off-season recruit Beau Champion (calf) was named on an extended bench, but the former South Sydney centre remains in extreme doubt.

Young Englishman Gareth Widdop won the hotly contested five-eighth role, while Sika Manu still has some work to do to overcome a knee ligament injury in time to tackle the Sea Eagles.

Storm: Billy Slater, Matt Duffie, Dane Nielson, Chase Stanley, Anthony Quinn, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Bryan Norrie, Cameron Smith, Jaiman Lowe, Adam Blair, Sika Manu, Ryan Hinchcliffe. Interchange: Todd Lowrie, Kevin Proctor, Troy Thomson, Jesse Bromwich, Beau Champion (one to be omitted).

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