'Hope he's ready to do that': Nicho Hynes sends warning to former Storm teammate Jahrome Hughes

Nicho Hynes has sent a cheeky warning to former Storm teammate Jahrome Hughes, who will return for Friday night's preliminary final under an injury cloud.

Hughes missed his side's qualifying final win over Canterbury a fortnight ago with a broken arm, but has been named to line up at halfback against Cronulla.

Last year's Dally M Medal winner will still need to prove his fitness, but all signs point towards Hughes taking the field in his usual No.7 jumper against the bitter rivals.

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After suffering a dislocated shoulder in round 21 and then injuring his arm in his initial comeback in round 27, all eyes will be on the wounded halfback.

Hynes was quizzed on Wednesday about his former teammate's injury and what he thought Melbourne would do if the shoe was on the other foot.

His answer should have Hughes and the Storm on high alert.

"I know exactly what they'd be doing - making me make 50 tackles, so hopefully he's ready to do that," the Sharks playmaker said.

"We were actually talking a couple of weeks ago and he gave me a little hint that he was probably gonna be right for the prelim.

"I've still got a lot of best mates over there. I still keep in contact with a lot of them - obviously not this week though."

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Hynes spent the early years of his NRL career playing with a lot of the current Storm squad, but was eventually squeezed out in pursuit of a permanent starting role.

To this day, one of his closest mates is Harry Grant, who the oft maligned No.7 will be hoping to get a rare victory over and book a grand final spot.

"It is an awkward situation because Harry and I do talk pretty regularly," Hynes said.

"He's got the wood over me the majority of the time, I think I've only beaten him once.

"Hopefully he's the one who is gonna be sad and I'll be the happy one."

The 29-year-old was part of Melbourne's last premiership-winning team five years ago, but sat on the bench for the entire game against the Panthers.

Hynes admitted he still has love for the club that gave him his first opportunity in the top grade, but wouldn't be taking a backwards step come Friday night at AAMI Park.

"All I know is that it was hard sitting on the bench for a long time and not getting on, but still getting a ring," he said.

"Obviously the ring is the best feeling ever, but I'd love to play in a grand final and play for 80 minutes and have a big impact.

"It might be a little bit extra special beating them, but it's also a team that I hold pretty close to my heart.

"I just really don't want it to end, so hopefully we can get one more done and get our way into a grand final."

Cronulla caused upsets in the first two weeks of the finals with wins over the Roosters and Raiders, but will start as underdogs once again when they meet Melbourne.