Melbourne Storm supercoach Craig Bellamy has labelled NZ Warriors one of the most improved teams he's seen in his 20 years of NRL coaching.
The teams meet in the traditional Anzac Day showdown, a year after Melbourne's recordbreaking win that resulted in one of the heaviest defeats ever inflicted on the Warriors, but Bellamy is treading carefully this time against a side with five wins from seven games to start the season.
He has had the better of the Warriors every time they've met since 2014, with 13 straight wins, but making it 14 would mean overcoming one of the competition's form sides.
"I can't remember a side that has improved as much as they have," Bellamy said. "They've been really impressive.
"You just have to look at where they are on the table. They've been outstanding."
Twelve months ago, Melbourne put on a 70-10 clinic to blow the Warriors off the park, but Bellamy isn't interested in last year - he's firmly looking at the present.
As always, when these two sides meet, there's drama one way or another and, with the Warriors' talismanic half Shaun Johnson in tantalising form, the Storm are cautious in significant occasion off the field too.
"It was something I've marked in my schedule since pre-season," says Melbourne's Kiwi winger Will Warbrick. "A lot of people in my family have served in the forces."
Former NZ sevens star Warbrick is having a breakout season for Melbourne.
He's one of several Kiwis in the side who know just how special Anzac Day will be.
"It sort of all lines up, doesn't it?" he asks. "Playing the Warriors, family coming over, Anzac, Melbourne v NZ Warriors... it's going to be a pretty big moment or event.
"I'm looking forward to it, but I'm not trying to get too excited too early."
Join Newshub at 9pm Tuesday for live updates of the Warriors v Storm Anzac Day clash, or catch live coverage on Three or Three Now
