Dale Finucane is aiming to be fit for Storm’s final trial match of the pre-season after suffering a knee injury at training.

The fearless lock injured a tendon in his knee and underwent surgery to repair the damage.

The setback is expected to delay Finucane’s start to training in January however the Club is hopeful he will be available for Storm’s second trial match against the Bulldogs in Hobart on February 18. If not, the medical staff is confident the 25-year-old will be ready when Round 1 kicks off in early March.

Centre Will Chambers will return to full training with the squad in January after recovering from post-season surgery on his foot.

Storm head coach Craig Bellamy said the experienced pair will work their way back to full fitness prior to the 2017 NRL season.

“I like to think that Will (Chambers) will be training in the New Year,” Bellamy said.

“I’m not quite sure with Dale, he might struggle to even play in the trials so we’ve got to see how that injury comes up and we’ll go from there.”

“He had a bit of a mishap at training and tore a ligament off his knee. He’s been operated on and hopefully he will be back for the start of the season.”

Storm will play two pre-season trials against the Warriors on February 11 and Canterbury on February 18 before travelling to Belmore to again take on Bulldogs in Round 1 on March 3.