Melbourne's Harry Grant makes surprise admission amid teammate Brandon Smith's contract wrangle

Gun Melbourne hooker Harry Grant has made the surprise admission that he has no issue with starting on the bench if it means teammate Brandon Smith remains with the Storm.

Smith's chief contender for Melbourne's No.9 jumper even says he's begging him to "hurry up and sign", as the New Zealand Test rake weighs up his future beyond this season.

While Smith is contracted to the Storm until the end of 2022, the premiership-winning dummy-half has earned the permission of the club to exit early, provided a suitable replacement is available.

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In just about every game this season, Smith has started at hooker and Grant on the bench, with Smith typically shifting to lock when Grant is substituted on to play at dummy-half.

"I think everyone wants to start but I think for me it's just whatever's best for the team and for myself it's probably playing off the bench," Grant told Sydney's Nine News.

"I love him," Grant said of Smith.

"He's so good for our side and our squad and I'm just telling him to hurry up and sign. Everyone wants him to stay."

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But as Melbourne prepare for a preliminary final against the winner of Penrith and Parramatta, Smith says he's torn over his desires for 2022.

"I still have no idea (if I want to leave early)," Smith said.

"Obviously my preferred position is hooker and the way this club is run – it'd be hard for me to turn away from this.

"I sort of owe them. Footy's footy ... You don't owe anyone in footy. But they really changed my life, this club, and it'd be hard to turn away.

"I don't really have a clear vision on what I want to do."