© Melbourne Storm

Smith has been named to start at halfback in Cronk's absence

With regular playmaker Cooper Cronk unavailable, skipper Cam Smith is set to start at halfback as Melbourne gets its premiership defence underway on Saturday night against Cronulla.

Coach Craig Bellamy has named a 19-man squad for the trip to Toyota Stadium, where the Storm boast a 5-4 win-loss record, with Smith to again fill in wearing the No.7 jersey because Cronk is unlikely to play before Round 4 following off-season groin surgery.

"It worked reasonably well for us (Cam playing in the No.7), so we're looking at that for this week," Bellamy said of Smith deputising for Cronk when Melbourne beat Leeds Rhinos last week to claim the World Club Challenge trophy at Elland Road in England.

"(But) we've got a couple of options there, young Luke Kelly, who was the captain of the 20s, he's an option."

"(And) Gareth Widdop, he's an option if we put Brett (Finch) in at halfback."

With several players unavailable, another handful having moved on from last season following the 23-16 win over Parramatta in the Grand Final, and doubt over Eels recruit Todd Lowrie, Bellamy has named an extended bench.

Luke MacDougall, who has spent the past three seasons playing for Newcastle, retains his spot on the wing after slotting in following Steve Turner's departure to the Bulldogs, while Anthony Quinn returns on the other wing after missing much of 2009 with a neck injury.

With Dane Nielsen moving into the centres alongside Greg Inglis after Will Chambers switched codes to the Queensland Reds, Quinn has reclaimed his spot, while Smith's move to halfback means Ryan Hinchcliffe will start at hooker after spending most of last year as a back-up to Smith.

Lowrie has been named at lock, having been given first crack at the role after Dallas Johnson moved to English Super League club Les Catalans at the end of last year but is not expected to play after picking up a groin strain against Leeds.

The extended squad also includes Kevin Proctor, who is back from the broken ankle that ruined his 2009 campaign, under 20s graduate Jesse Bromwich and new faces Rory Kostjasyn and Bryan Norrie.

As well as Cronk, also unavailable because of injury are Brett White (shoulder), who is slated for a return in Round 7, Chase Stanley (shoulder) and Sione Kite (shoulder), who are both due back in Round 8 and Sika Manu (broken leg) who remains on the sidelines indefinitely.

Storm:
1. Billy Slater, 2. Luke MacDougall, 3. Dane Nielsen, 4. Greg Inglis, 5. Anthony Quinn, 6. Brett Finch, 7. Cam Smith (c), 8. Aiden Tolman, 9. Ryan Hinchcliffe, 10. Jeff Lima, 11. Adam Blair, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Todd Lowrie
Interchange: 14. Rory Kostjasyn, 15. Kevin Proctor, 16. Hep Cahill, 17. Jesse Bromwich, 18. Ryan Tandy, 19. Bryan Norrie