He won’t have a Mal Meninga-size guard on his forearm but Melbourne Storm star Jahrome Hughes is set to play in the club’s preliminary final at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Hughes fractured his forearm in the last round of the season and seemed long odds to be able to return in time for the finals.

But the reigning Dally M Medallist has recovered quicker than expected and Storm coach Craig Bellamy is confident Hughes will play on Friday night against Cronulla, unless any last-minute issues arise.

Returning Hughes to the side will mean rising halfback Jonah Pezet will likely drop out after starring in their qualifying final win over Canterbury-Bankstown two weeks ago.

Unless something flares up for Hughes, Bellamy said he would be running out against the Cronulla Sharks despite having n

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