AFTER two years of injury hell, Billy Slater is ready to explode in 2017.

The buzz coming out of the Storm camp in the countdown to Christmas is the 33-year-old fullback is as fit and, importantly, just as fast as he has been for years.

There was speculation in NRL circles this week that the Storm superstar had suffered a setback in pre-season training that may place his comeback from shoulder surgery in jeopardy.

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Melbourne’s longtime football manager Frank Ponissi knocked that right on the head when he told The Daily Telegraph that Slater remained on target to have his first full contact session in

the opening hitout of the new year on January 5.

Billy Slater goes through his paces at pre-season training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

“He is not in absolutely full contact yet but he is doing all the running and the skills,” Ponissi said.

“Physically, he is just in great nick. As good as I have seen him in for probably the last five years. He hasn’t lost any of his zip and he is in great spirits.”

While Ponissi said there can be no guarantees, the surgeons and Storm medical staff are extremely confident there would be no further issues.

Melbourne Storm star Billy Slater can reach 300 NRL games in 2017. Picture: Nathan Dyer Source: News Corp Australia

By his own admission, Slater was unsure if he would play again following two years marred by shoulder injuries.

He only played seven games in 2015 and this year underwent surgery again after the opening round of the season.

Sitting on 278 NRL games for Melbourne, Ponissi said it would be a just reward if Slater was to reach the magical 300-game milestone with the club in 2017.

Billy Slater will return to full contact work in January. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

“He has the potential to do that and I think he deserves it,” Ponissi said.

“It is a real credit to him and all the hard work he has been through. Billy is the ultra positive person, one of the most positive people I have been associated with.

“To go through what he has been through over the past year, it hasn’t been easy for him.

“He worked so hard to get back (this year) and then to have that disappointment, it was tough.”

“But he got through that first phase of rehab and like I said it is just a real credit to him to be where he is right now.”

Billy Slater with Cameron Smith after Melbourne’s win over Canterbury in the 2012 grand final. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited

Ponissi said Slater lined up in an opposed game at training this week and what was obvious to Craig Bellamy was that just having him back and steering the attack injected new confidence into everyone around him.

Incredibly, the Storm have still managed to play in the last two finals series without the man long rated the world’s best fullback, and only narrowly went down in this year’s grand final to Cronulla.

A World Cup at the end of next year will no doubt provide Slater with extra motivation to reclaim his place in the Queensland and Australian Test teams.