Melbourne flyer Sandor Earl is in line for his second NRL appearance of the season after Storm coach Craig Bellamy opted to keep his three-one bench split to take on Wests Tigers on Thursday night.

The Storm were forced to shuffle their backline for the AAMI Park match following injuries to fullback Jahrome Hughes (concussion) and centre Curtis Scott (foot).

Ryan Papenhuyzen will get his first start at No.1 after impressing in his opportunity off the bench in their thumping of Parramatta while Marion Seve regained a starting spot in the centres.

Bellamy said the club’s depth of outside backs was being tested, with Earl almost last man standing.

The 29-year-old returned to the NRL from a four year doping ban for their round four game against the Bulldogs.

Bellamy said he was tossing up including four forwards on the bench, but instead opted for the hard-working Earl in place of unlucky prop Patrick Kaufusi.

“That’s a week to week decision that we make thinking about who we have there and the versatility of those players and who we’re playing,” Bellamy said.

The coach said he was well aware of the strength of the Tigers’ spine, led by veterans Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall, as well as the likes of centre Mahe Fonua, who spent four years with Melbourne.

“Guys like Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah bring a great deal of experience to the younger guys and they are a dangerous team,” Bellamy said.

While Earl has been included on the bench, Wests Tigers are set to field a near identical side to the one that topped the Panthers.

The only change is the inclusion of backrower Josh Aloiai, who returns among the reserves after sitting out last week with concussion in place of the club’s latest debutant in Oliver Clark.