Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith has been impressed with youngster Scott Drinkwater as the race to fill the fullback spot vacated by Billy Slater heats up.

Jahrome Hughes is the other leading contender to fill the void left by the club legend’s retirement, with Smith ruling out a speculated move by star five-eighth Cameron Munster.

“Drinkwater has been training quite exceptionally … he is probably the guy who has impressed me the most the last couple of weeks,” Smith told reporters on Friday.