Melbourne Storm flyer Justin O'Neill set to trial switch to centre against Canberra Raiders

STORM flyer Justin O'Neill is eyeing a move to the centres this season starting with Saturday's trial against Canberra.

MELBOURNE Storm flyer Justin O'Neill is eyeing a move to the centres this season starting with Saturday's first trial game against Canberra at AAMI Park.

With winger Matt Duffie returning from injury this year and the departure of centre Maurice Blair, there is an opportunity for O'Neill to make the switch.

O'Neill - who has occupied the right wing at Melbourne for a number of seasons - will be looking to impress on Saturday after being named in the centres.News_Rich_Media: Canberra Coach Ricky Stuart has named his squad for his first trial game at the helm of the Raiders, with the team travelling to Melbourne to take on the Storm this weekend.

It is set to be an audition for the Queensland speedster ahead of next month's season-opener against Manly at Brookvale Oval.

"I always played in the centres as a junior," he said.

"I'd love a chance to play a whole season in the centres.

"But as I've said to (coach) Craig (Bellamy), I'm able to play on the wing as well and if that's better for a team I'm happy to be there.

"But personally I'd love to play in the centres for the season."

Saturday night's match will be Melbourne's first since it was bundled out of the finals by Newcastle in last year's semi-final.News_Rich_Media: Ricky Stuart will take charge of Canberra Raiders for the first time during this weekend's trial against Melbourne Storm, with a new-look side keen to impress the new coach.

Storm were uncharacteristically knocked out in straight sets, leading to some suggesting it was the end of an era.

But the Storm is hell bent on redemption, spending much of the pre-season focusing on its discipline and doing the little things right.

"One of the main things last year that we fell away from in the end was being a consistent team, which Storm usually is," O'Neill said.

"They're known for their consistent defence and not giving teams any room to move.

"That is one thing we have worked on in the pre-season and we think that's an area we will be better in this year."

The Storm "big three" of skipper Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk will all miss Saturday's trial game.

The match is an opportunity for many of the younger brigade to impress, including young guns Cameron Munster and Ben Hampton.

New recruits George Rose, Joel Romelo, Felise Kaufusi and Hymel Hunt will also feature in a match forecast to be played in 40C heat.

O'Neill said it was an opportunity for the new-look Storm to click before the start of the season.

"There are a lot of new boys in the squad," he said.

"There are a few connections we have trialled in training but we haven't seen how we go on the football field yet.

"It'll be good to see how we go playing alongside a lot of the new guys."

The club has ticked over 10,000 members for the new season with tickets for its home games on Friday released through Ticketek.