And with Lachlan Sharp and recruits Bryce Curnow and Hugh Robertson to be all missing early in the season, the Storm’s forward half will certainly have a look of unpredictability about it.

A knee problem will keep Curnow out for five to six weeks and Robertson is unavailable early in the season due to an overseas trip, while the competition’s reigning Michelsen and Ron Best medallist, Sharp, suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter of last week’s 25-point round one loss to Eaglehawk.

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Coates described Sharp’s hamstring as only a one-to-two week injury.

“It’s unfortunate Bryce is out injured and Hughy is unavailable for the first few games… those two and Sharpy are our three main forwards this year and we don’t have any of them at the moment,” Coates said.

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“Injuries are part of the game, but what it does is give some different players an opportunity. We’ll try a few different things and we know that some will work and some won’t, but this is the time of the year to be doing that rather than having to adapt a couple of weeks out from finals.

“We’ve got good depth in our squad and then when we get these guys back in a few weeks, that’s going to make us stronger.”

After missing last week’s opening round due to work commitments, the Storm will welcome in recruit Jack Shanahan for his first game with the club in Saturday’s twilight clash at home against Gisborne from 4.15pm.

Shanahan, who is the Storm’s midfield coach, has played NEAFL with the NT Thunder and VFL with Geelong and is described by Coates as a utility who will “add great value as not just a player, but in terms of his leadership”.

Meanwhile, star Sandhurst ruckman Tim Martin is ineligible to play in Saturday’s clash against South Bendigo at the QEO due to his report of engaging in rough conduct with Golden Square’s Braydon Welsh last week not being heard by the tribunal until 7.30pm this Sunday night.