The wait is over!

Storm fullback Billy Slater has been named to make his long awaited return from injury at AAMI Park this Thursday night against arch-rivals the Brisbane Broncos.

After 374 days on the sidelines, the Queensland and Australian representative returns for Melbourne’s opening home game of the 2017 season.

Slater’s inclusion sees Cameron Munster shift to five-eighth while Ryley Jacks moves on to a six-man extended bench.

In a further selection boost for Storm, star prop Jesse Bromwich has been named in the 21-man squad after missing last week’s win over the Warriors with a thumb injury.

Craig Bellamy will name a reduced 19-man squad tomorrow night at 8pm before the final team is named one hour before kick-off on Thursday.

Melbourne Storm v Brisbane Broncos

Thursday 16 March, 8:05pm

AAMI Park

1. Billy Slater

2. Suliasi Vunivalu

3. William Chambers

4. Cheyse Blair

5. Josh Addo-Carr

6. Cameron Munster

7. Cooper Cronk

8. Tim Glasby

9. Cameron Smith ©

10. Jordan McLean

11. Felise Kaufusi

12. Kenny Bromwich

13. Dale Finucane

14. Christian Welch

15. Joe Stimson

16. Nelson Asofa Solomona

17. Vincent Leuluai

18. Mark Nicholls

19. Young Tonumaipea

20. Ryley Jacks

21. Jesse Bromwich