Melbourne's premiership push has been thrown into turmoil after Jahrome Hughes suffered a suspected broken wrist during the Storm's Round 27 clash with Brisbane.
Hughes had just returned from a shoulder injury which sidelined him for five weeks, but lasted just over half-an-hour before heading to the sheds once again.
His absence from this Storm lineup could be devastating. When Hughes played this season his side won 13 of 18 games, showing his undeniable influence.
Hughes is the reigning Dally M Medal winner and the heartbeat of Melbourne's attack.
Without him, the Storm lack genuine premiership credentials at the position, which is often a prerequisite of playing on the first Sunday of October.
Craig Bellamy's depth will be tested. Tyran Wishart filled in at stages throughout the season, but lacks Hughes' polish. Jonah Pezet is an option, but he remains untested in the finals.
The Storm are still dangerous - Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuyzen can all change games.
Hughes has been Melbourne's closer. Without his direction, they must rely on the other members of the spine stepping in to fill the void behind a forward pack that hasn't been dominant all year.
The Storm can still win the premiership in theory, but Hughes' injury has turned them from genuine contenders into a team that needs everything to go right from this point forward.
MORE: Jahrome Hughes injured again as Melbourne’s premiership hopes take a dive
Wishart or Pezet to replace injured Hughes?
With Jahrome Hughes sidelined by a suspected broken wrist, the Storm face a critical question: who should run the team at halfback in the finals?
The choice comes down to Wishart or Pezet, the former filled in for most of the season, appearing in 24 games. He offers experience, reliability, and a proven ability to apply the principals of Craig Bellamy's system.
Wishart is most effective when he takes on the line, having six tries and six try assists, plus six line breaks on the season - averaging 56 running metres per game.
Pezet, by contrast, has played only seven games this season. He is more of a prototypical halfback, with higher kicking metrics: 183.7 kick metres per game.
The 22-year-old's game management and vision make him a dangerous option in Melbourne's structured attack.
However, his inexperience in first grade could be a liability under the intense pressure of finals football.
Bellamy's choice is a trade-off: go with the experienced Munster-Wishart pairing, or the better system fit of Pezet who can take over the traditional halfback duties.
The Storm's premiership hopes hinge on getting this decision right.