Luke Lewis is set to return to the Cronulla side for Saturday’s NRL clash with Melbourne as he bids to shake off his injury-afflicted time with the Sharks.

The Kangaroos and NSW utility has played just 28 NRL games since moving to the Shire ahead of the 2013 season.

Complications with a knee complaint held back his start to 2015.

He missed the struggling Sharks’ season-opening losses to Canberra and Brisbane, but boarded a plane to Melbourne late on Friday and is expected to take the field at AAMI Park, for a virtual must-win match.

The hard-running and tough-tackling Lewis should be a massive fillip for Shane Flanagan’s Sharks, who went tryless against the Broncos.

Flanagan was keeping his cards close to his chest when queried about Lewis’s likely return .

“He has trained well all week, he will be on a plane and we will make a call in the morning,” Flanagan said.

“His knee injury has been frustrating for him but he is on top of it now, he is looking fit and looking strong.”

David Fifita is likely to fall off the Sharks bench for Lewis.

Sam Tagataese returns to start at prop for the visitors in a further boost for the reigning wooden spooners.

Matt Prior moves to the bench for the Samoan international.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy has named the same 17 who went down narrowly to Manly at Brookvale Oval last weekend.